{"id":3221,"date":"2023-04-06T19:40:32","date_gmt":"2023-04-06T19:40:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=3221"},"modified":"2023-04-06T19:40:32","modified_gmt":"2023-04-06T19:40:32","slug":"ullico-laborers-local-773-sponsoring-saluki-ball","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=3221","title":{"rendered":"ULLICO, Laborers\u2019 Local 773 sponsoring Saluki Ball"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Members of Laborers\u2019 Local 773, seen here while working at Touch of Nature Environmental Center, have completed many projects on campus, donating their time and efforts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Jeff Wilson<\/strong><\/p>\n

The relationship between SIU and union labor goes back a long way.<\/p>\n

Now, that relationship is getting even stronger as ULLICO, Inc.<\/a>, and Laborers\u2019 Local 773<\/a> stepped up to become one of the presenting sponsors of the inaugural Saluki Ball.<\/p>\n

\u201cSIU is the crown jewel of Southern Illinois. It\u2019s the economic engine of this region, and we are committed to SIU,\u201d said Ed Smith, president and CEO of ULLICO. \u201cSIU has one of the most diverse, unionized workforces in America.\u201d<\/p>\n

While dedicating $100,000 to become a presenting sponsor of the ball is a major investment, Laborers\u2019 Local 773 has handed out scholarships to its members\u2019 children since 1986.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have given out more than $336,000 in scholarships, and that number is about to go up,\u201d said Jerry Womick, International Representative and Business Manager for Laborers\u2019 Local 773. \u201cWe give students $500 extra if they choose to attend SIU.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many of those scholarship recipients are first-generation students. The union and its members understand the value of financial assistance. The union averages about 70 employees on campus at any moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnion members feed their families through SIU,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThey put their blood, sweat, and tears into the university. They do the dirty work.\u201d<\/p>\n

The union has been involved with most of SIU\u2019s biggest projects, and much of the work is done with donated time and supplies. Union laborers have done many of the site improvements at Touch of Nature Environmental Center, installed the walking path around Campus Lake, and put in flower planters around the REC Center. ULLICO and Laborers\u2019 Local 773 have also supported WSIU broadcasting and Saluki Athletics for many years.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur fingerprints are all over SIU,\u201d Smith said. \u201cWe are joined at the hip, and we\u2019re there through thick and thin.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Saluki Ball<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hosted by Chancellor Austin Lane and Mrs. Loren Lane, the inaugural Saluki Ball, to be held Saturday, April 22, at the Marriott Marquis Chicago, will help students bridge the financial gap as they strive to reach their ultimate goals.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to have a vision, a positive attitude,\u201d Smith said. \u201cYou also have to go where the students are. Chancellor Lane has done a great job of recruiting locally, but this is a competitive business. SIU has to recruit against the schools in and around Chicago.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ball is black-tie optional and will feature a performance by R&B legend Brian McKnight. It will be hosted by ESPN radio host and SIU alumnus Marc Silverman and NBC Chicago reporter Regina Waldroup. There will be special awards for outstanding alumni and students. The other presenting sponsors of the ball are Dr. Glenn and Jo Poshard. The event is nearly sold out.<\/p>\n

\u201cSouthern Illinois rises and falls with the university,\u201d Smith said. \u201cToo many times we think we\u2019re the underdog, but SIU is staging a comeback.\u201d<\/p>\n

To learn more about the Saluki Ball or get your tickets, visit salukiball.siu.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Jeff Wilson The relationship between SIU and union labor goes back a long way. Now, that relationship is getting even stronger as ULLICO, Inc., and Laborers\u2019 Local 773 stepped up to become one of the presenting sponsors of the inaugural Saluki Ball. \u201cSIU is the crown jewel of Southern Illinois. It\u2019s the economic engine … Continue reading ULLICO, Laborers\u2019 Local 773 sponsoring Saluki Ball<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,3,4,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3221","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-donor-stories","category-higher-education","category-illinois-higher-education","category-siu"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3221","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3221"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3221\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3223,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3221\/revisions\/3223"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3221"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3221"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3221"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}