advertisement

Free 2015 ABC calendar supports retraining returning vets

For more than 65 years, ABC Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric has served the Chicago area. And while they take great pride in serving this area, in 2015 they are proud to honor the great men and women who have served our country.

Beginning Dec. 3, ABC is mailing out 55,000 copies of its second annual "Men of ABC" calendar with the intention of raising awareness and money for a powerful veterans' program called Troops To Trades.

The program, developed by the Nexstar Legacy Foundation, is designed to get returning veterans scholarships and training in the plumbing, heating, cooling and electric industries. In 2014, ABC committed more than $40,000 to the program.

The importance of recruiting trained technicians in the service industry is underlined by the increasing average age of technicians currently working in the field. These industries are vital to the health and well-being of families across the country providing quality air, clean water and safe homes, and this industry is currently facing a shortage of qualified technicians.

In addition, the need for military veterans to have solid careers in the civilian sector is high. The White House announced that more than 34,000 troops have returned to the U.S. since 2013, and the Troops To Trades program addresses both of these vital needs.

"Some of the most dedicated, resilient and capable people I've met deployed with me to Afghanistan," said Brendan Finn, a returning veteran. "Those who've left the service had to start at square one, because an infantry background doesn't yield the skills that domestic employment requires. I'm enthusiastic about the opportunities Troops to Trades provides to veterans."

Suburban residents can help the cause by using one of the special coupons inside of the 2015 Men of ABC Calendar. Each time a coupon is redeemed, ABC will donate $10 to the Troops To Trade program.

Calendars are being mailed throughout the Northwest suburbs, but additional copies are available at (847) 419-1000, by filling out a request form on www.4abc.com or requesting one on the Facebook page.

The Nexstar Legacy Foundation is dedicated to attracting talented individuals to the heating, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical industries, by inspiring these people to discover the prestige, earning power and stability of careers in these fields. The foundation accomplishes this by being the leading resource for information on careers and training, as well as a source of financial aid.

Mr. April, Eric Reyes, inside his home.
Tim Golter, Mr. May, loves to work in the yard.
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.