Local 4 donates $10,000 to St. Francis House

Local 4 members once again demonstrated the strength of our solidarity and commitment to our community this past December by contributing $5,000 to our annual holiday charity collection. In recognition of our members’ generosity, Local 4 proudly matched that amount, bringing the total donation to $10,000 in support of St. Francis House, Boston’s largest day shelter for people experiencing homelessness.

St. Francis House provides critical services to some of our most vulnerable neighbors, including daily meals, shelter, showers, laundry services, and substance recovery programs. Many of the individuals who rely on these services are facing significant challenges, including mental illness, and depend on St. Francis House—especially during the winter months—for dignity, care, and stability.

St. Francis House also shares our commitment to union labor. The organization has partnered with Local 4 and the Boston Building Trades on the construction of a new 19-story residential tower at 41 Lagrange Street, a project committed to being 100% union-built. Many Local 4 members have proudly worked on this job, with some still currently on-site.

This donation reflects the values of Local 4: supporting working families, standing with our communities, and uplifting those in need.

3^rd Year Apprentice Chris Gonsalves speaks at Helmets to Hardhats event, Local 4 Donates $10,000

Local 4 is proud to support Helmets to Hardhats (H2H) once again with a $10,000 donation in November 2025. H2H is a key program that connects veterans with opportunities in the union trades after completing their military service. Our very own 3rd Year Apprentice Chris Gonsalves shared his experience utilizing the program during an event at the State House celebrating this year’s collective donations from local union trades and highlighting the benefits of the program.

$95,000 for local children’s charities thanks to Local 4’s 8th Annual William D. McLaughlin Golf Outing

The Operating Engineers Local 4 Charitable Foundation, Inc. proudly donated $95,000 to children’s charities from the funds raised at this year’s William D. McLaughlin Golf Outing. These funds have been allocated to five local organizations whose goals and initiatives focus on supporting children and families around the region.

Local 4 is happy to support these organizations with the following contributions:

• $25,000 to The New England Center for Children
• $25,000 to Why Me & Sherry’s House
• $15,000 to KyleCares Foundation
• $15,000 to Colin’s Joy Project
• $15,000 to Cradles to Crayons

Thank you to all who made these donations possible; your generosity is making a difference in our community!

Local 4 Proudly Supports Veterans Program: Helmets to Hardhats

Helmets to Hardhats (H2H) is a vital program that helps military veterans transition to rewarding, union careers in the trades. Since 2007, H2H has successfully placed over 1,100 veterans in the union trades in Massachusetts alone. Local 4 is proud to partner with H2H to provide meaningful career opportunities to our military heroes. We are also honored to support this program with an annual donation. To learn more about the positive impact this program is having in our local community, please watch the following video.

Local 4 donates over $10,000 to Cradles to Crayons

This December, members of Local 4 participated in a long-standing tradition of donating to a deserving charity at the December Body Meeting. Their generosity amounted to $5,358, which Local 4 matched, bringing the total donation to $10,716 for Cradles to Crayons. This admirable nonprofit organization provides essential items to children in need – more than 20 million nationwide and over 145,000 each year in Massachusetts alone.

The mission of Cradles to Crayons is to provide clothing, diapers, backpacks, shoes, pajamas, winter coats, and other items necessary for children to thrive at home, at school, and at play. The organization serves children from birth through age 12 who are living in homeless or low-income situations, where their support is most needed. For the second consecutive year, Local 4 has chosen to donate to their cause and help deliver these essential items to underserved families. This eases the financial burden on parents and caregivers facing challenging economic circumstances, allowing them to allocate funds toward other critical expenses, such as rent, groceries, and heating bills. Local 4 believes in the power of community and wants to ensure that kids can focus on being kids, especially during this season of giving.

Local 4’s 7th Annual William D. McLaughlin Golf Outing raises over $110,000 for local veterans charities

In 2024, our Union proudly contributed $110,000 to several charitable organizations focused on providing resources and support to veterans who served our country with honor and courage. Thanks to the generosity of Local 4 members and our sponsors, we were able to raise these funds during our 7th Annual William D. McLaughlin Golf Outing.

Local 4 made the following donations to support local veterans organizations:

• $25,000 to Project New Hope
• $25,000 to Veterans Inc.
• $25,000 to New England Center and Home for Veterans
• $20,000 to House in the Woods
• $10,000 to Seabee Museum & Memorial Park in memory of member Charles “Carl” Bucci. Carl Bucci, a 71-year member of Local 4, served honorably in the Navy Seabees during World War II. He was Treasurer of Local 4 from 1959-1985, Business Agent from 1961-1985, and Trustee of the Health and Welfare Fund until his retirement in 1985.
• $5,000 to Massachusetts Fallen Heroes

Ryan Mancini, James Marenghi, David Fantini, Michael Bowes, David Shea, and Christopher Carey present a $25,000 check to Veterans Inc. based in Worcester, MA.

Representatives of the OE Local 4 Charitable Foundation presenting a check to the staff and veterans of Project New Hope in Worcester, MA.

Robert Burr, Michael Bowes, and Ryan Mancini present a $20,000 check to Paul House, Executive Director of House in the Woods in Maine, which provides programs for veterans to support their wellbeing.

Local 4 representatives presenting a donation to the Seabee Museum & Memorial Park in North Kingstown, RI in memory of member Charles “Carl” Bucci who served in the U.S. Navy and later joined Local 4.

Local 4’s 6th Annual Golf Outing raises over $100,000 for local children’s charities

In 2023, our union proudly contributed over $100,000 to an array of charitable organizations – a testament to the generosity of Local 4 members. The funds were raised during our 6th Annual Golf Outing.

Local 4 donated $25,000 each to four children’s charities, including:

• Why Me & Sherry’s House, a Worcester-based organization which helps families facing childhood cancer;
• Rare New England, which is dedicated to helping individuals with rare diseases;
• The Martin Richard Foundation, honoring the young victim of the Boston Marathon bombing through initiatives promoting inclusiveness, kindness and peace; and
• The New England Center for Children, which provides comprehensive services for children with autism through day and residential programs, partner classrooms in public school systems, consulting services, and autism curriculum software for teachers.

Local 4 donates over $13,000 to Cradles to Crayons

Local 4 members recently demonstrated their unwavering generosity by contributing $6,514 in donations to Cradles to Crayons at our December Body Meeting. To increase our giving power, the union matched these contributions, resulting in an impressive total of $13,028 donated to this dynamic non-profit organization.

Cradles to Crayons is dedicated to combating children’s clothing insecurity by providing affordable, appropriate clothing to thousands of children annually across the U.S. Shockingly, over 20 million children nationwide lack essential clothing and basic necessities for healthy childhood development.

Local 4’s support will contribute to Cradles to Crayons’ mission, ensuring that no child goes without these vital items. From properly fitting school outfits to diapers, backpacks, shoes, pajamas, and winter coats, our members’ generosity will make a significant difference in the lives of children facing these challenges.

Local 4 has a rich history of supporting organizations and causes that positively impact our communities. We extend our heartfelt thanks to each member who contributed at the December Body Meeting.

Your generosity is a beacon of hope for children and families in need, and we are proud to have such compassionate members in our union.

$100,000 donated to fund cutting-edge Alzheimer’s research in Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Local 4 is pleased to have made a $100,000 donation to the Alzheimer’s Association Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter in January.

The donation will fund research, treatment, and advocacy for those affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia. The funds were raised by union members and partners through the 5th Annual Operating Engineers Local 4 Charitable Foundation, Inc. Golf Outing. In addition to industry-leading research, the Alzheimer’s Association provides care and support infrastructure for those affected by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The organization is the largest nonprofit contributor to Alzheimer’s research and aims to ultimately develop a cure.

Local 4 donates $9,564 to fight Heart Disease and Stroke

Local 4 was pleased to make a donation of over $9,500 to the American Heart Association. This contribution, which was made possible through the generosity of our members, will advance the fight against Heart Disease and Stroke. Donations totaling $4,782 were collected at the December Body Meeting, which was then matched by the Local General Fund. The American Heart Association leads the way in education and research to promote prevention and healthy living. This organization is making a significant difference to families across the nation and we are proud to support their work.

Local 4 Proudly Gives $10,000 to support Veterans

Local 4 was proud to have donated $10,000 to Helmets to Hardhats, a national nonprofit program that connects National Guard, Reserve, and retired and transitioning active-duty military service members with skilled training and quality career opportunities in the construction industry. The Mass Building Trades Council Helmets to Hardhats Fundraising Event was held last November.

Local 4 member Brent DeLongchamps spoke at the event. Members of Local 4’s leadership, including Training Instructor Peter Carpenter, Vice President David Shea, President Michael Bowes, Business Manager William McLaughlin, Training Coordinator Michael Carey, and Training Instructor Thomas McEvoy attended the fundraiser to present our Local’s donation.

$100,000 donated to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for Breakthrough Cancer Research

The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 4 recently donated $100,000 to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to assist their efforts in the fight against cancer. The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a top-ranked cancer hospital in the nation and leads the way in important cancer research, such as precision cancer medicine and cancer immunology. Dana-Farber delivers advanced and specialized cancer treatments for various types of cancers that have affected our membership, family, and friends.

The funds for this donation were raised through our Charitable Foundation’s 4th Annual Golf Outing in 2021. We thank our membership for their generosity and commitment to supporting our communities. Local 4 is proud to contribute to further the advancement of future cancer breakthroughs and life-saving research.

Local 4 Donates Over $10,000 to support Veterans

We’re proud to announce that our December Body Meeting attained its largest collection to date reaching $5,124. These donations were made by our generous members who participated in the meeting. The Local general fund has matched these contributions, bringing the total amount to $10,248.

This year, we are honored to donate over $10,000 to two veterans’ organizations, Veterans, Inc. and House in the Woods.

L to R: Worcester Business Representative David Dobson, Veterans Inc. Development & Volunteer Coordinator Kristen Franks, Business Manager William McLaughlin, Executive Director of Local 4 Charitable Foundation Amanda Johnson, and Business Representative Michael Bowes.

House in the Woods
On January 25, 2022, Local 4 presented a check of $5,124 to House in the Woods from Lee, Maine. House in the Woods is a nonprofit organization that offers outdoor programs to create a therapeutic, recreational, and educational retreat for active military, veterans, and their family members. The organization uses wilderness activities in Maine and natural habitats to help participants share common challenges such as stress, loss, and grief related to their service.

L to R: Paul House, Executive Director of House in the Woods, Business Manager William McLaughlin, Maine Business Representative Robert Burr, and NH Deputy Adjutant General Warren Perry. Permission to remove masks for the photo op was granted by all participants.

L to R: Training Instructor Peter Carpenter, President Michael Bowes, Apprentice Jake Donovan, Instructor Tom McEvoy, and Vice President David Shea attend the Mass Building Trades Council Helmets to Hardhats Fundraising Event on November 9th to present Local 4’s $10,000 donation to the program. Helmets to Hardhats is a national, nonprofit program that connects National Guard, Reserve, retired and transitioning active-duty military service members with skilled training and quality career opportunities in the construction industry.

Local 4 Business Manager William D. McLaughlin (right) and Business Agent Robert Burr present Lt. Mark Holmquist with a donation to the Maine State Troopers Foundation, in memory of  John G. Richardson, Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives.