Blue Collar Boxing - 2024 Impact Report

IMPACT REPORT NOVEMBER 27, 2024

Blue Collar Boxing is an exciting and competitive boxing event featuring local labor union members that duke it out in the ring to raise money for our community. Thanks to countless supporters, this year’s event was an absolute knockout!

STRONGER TOGETHER

Partners since 1941, the relationship between the Omaha Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO and United Way of the Midlands is built upon a mutual desire to create a better, stronger and more resilient community. We work together to expand opportunities within the trades and increase the qualified workforce in Nebraska, and it’s this shared commitment to the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro that led to the creation of the Blue Collar Boxing amateur boxing event in 2019.

The Funds Raised Through Blue Collar Boxing Will Have An Important Impact Across The Omaha-Council Bluffs Metro

Through United Way of the Midlands funds raised will help:

• Provide more than 10 million services that will address social and economic disparities - focused in four key areas:

- Healthy Community

- Youth Opportunity

- Financial Security

- Community Resiliency

Funds will also help the Nebraska Center for Workforce Development and Education support their programs, including:

• Project Reset – mentors justice-involved individuals so they can move into a skilled labor and trade career.

• GRIT Resiliency Training – helps participants recognize the symptoms of stress, PTSD, traumatic events, suicidal thoughts and the importance of focusing on mental health.

• T.O.O.L.S. – Trades Offer Opportunities that Lead to Success (T.O.O.L.S.) provides presentations about apprenticeship career training and opportunities in the trades industry to youth in the Omaha Metro area.

THE WINNER IS OUR COMMUNITY

The proceeds from Blue Collar Boxing benefit United Way of the Midlands and the Nebraska Center for Workforce Development and Education by helping individuals attain marketable job skills, assisting with job placement and providing essentials such as food, housing and health services.

United Way of the Midlands

Since 1923, United Way of the Midlands (UWM) has served the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro by bridging the business and not-for-profit sectors and raising money to support our community’s most impactful health and human service programs. UWM’s funded programs and direct services – like 211 and JAG Nebraska –focus on four key areas to improve health and well-being for all, build financial stability and strength, help young people realize their full potential and address urgent needs today to advance a better tomorrow.

Nebraska Center for Workforce Development and Education

The Nebraska Center for Workforce Development and Education (NCWDE) is a nonprofit focused on creating opportunities for individuals to gain exposure to careers in the trades and increasing awareness of these high-income, high-benefit career paths. Through their partnerships and programs, they are helping to increase the qualified workforce in Nebraska – specifically within the trades – to help address the shortage of skilled-labor workers and support the infrastructure of the State of Nebraska.

FIGHTING FOR A BETTER TOMORROW

There were plenty of local labor union members that were up for the challenge of participating in this year’s Blue Collar Boxing event! Individuals from 16 different labor unions signed up to train and be part of the big night.

• BCTGM 50

• Bricklayers 15

• Carpenters 1306

• FOP Lodge 88

• IBEW 22

• Insulators 39

• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E) Local 42

• Ironworkers 21

• IUEC 28

• Laborers 1140

• MUD 1525

• Operators 571

• Plumbers 16

• Sheetmetal Workers 3

• Sprinkler Fitters 669

• Steamfitters 464

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

An event of this size doesn’t happen without the support of numerous businesses and individuals. So many people stepped up and said they were willing to stand in our corner, and we are so grateful for their support!