By BERRY CRAIG
AFT Local 1360
The state’s largest labor federation has received Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky’s first Partner Award.
“The Kentucky State AFL-CIO has been a critical voice for Kentucky’s families and children through their support of our statewide child abuse prevention efforts,” said Jill Seyfred, PCAK executive director.
The state AFL-CIO is one of only five of PCAK's 215 partners to be recognized in 2018.
Bluegrass State unions “have been a source of volunteers, financial support, and a vehicle for our getting important prevention tools into the hands of their members,” she added.
Janna Estep Jordan, PCAK development director, presented a blue Partner Award banner to state AFL-CIO President Bill Londrigan and Secretary-Treasurer Jeff Wiggins at a recent meeting of the federation’s executive board in Frankfort.
Seyfred said Kentucky labor unions have raised $600,000 for her organization since 1997 through PCAK’s Blue Ribbon Reception, car show and now annual golf tournament.
She praised union members for volunteering for a wide range of PCAK activities from joining focus groups and handing out information at the Cincinnati Reds “Safe At Home Day” baseball games in the 1990s to event planning today.
Seyfred said the state AFL-CIO has been represented on the PCAK board of directors since 1997. Union members have included Steve Barger, Larry Roberts, Gary Best, Londrigan, John Stovall and Joe Baer.
“We could not do what we do without the financial support, leadership and guidance of each the Kentucky State AFL-CIO unions,” she said. “Union members have touched every facet of our organization. Bill Londrigan in particular has been so critical to PCAK.”