Foundation Equipment Grants Celebrated

Ready to ship! Sonepar’s donation of 124 desktop computers and 72 laptops.

BY IEC STAFF

Opportunity. When an individual is presented with an opportunity, that individual is given the chance to shine and be all that he or she was meant to be. Time and again you’ll read stories in this magazine or talk with your new apprentices and other employees and hear that taking advantage of an opportunity presented to them has brought them to this place.

But the IEC Foundation doesn’t sit back and wait for potential future electrical workers to get their breaks; they create those opportunities through their daily work. This article’s focus on equipment grants is the latest example.

“At the IEC Foundation, we are dedicated to fostering partnerships that make a significant impact on the electrical industry,” says Tom Alexander, Atkins & Stang and IEC Foundation chairman. “In addition to our annual formal grant application process, there are numerous opportunities for additional equipment grants throughout the year. These grants provide our sponsors with unique opportunities to contribute to our mission in various impactful ways.”

Forty-two chapters (see list) reaped benefits through the support of the equipment grant’s nine sponsors — Eaton, Graybar, Ideal Electrical, Legrand, Milwaukee Tool, Schneider Electric, Siemens, Sonepar USA, and Southwire. Eaton provided more than $2.7 million in grants this year alone, and the newest sponsor, Sonepar, is donating more than 4,000 computers to IEC chapters through 2025, in addition to monitors, phones, and printers.

“Rather than a one-off donation, we’re ensuring consistent support for IEC’s chapters across the U.S.,” notes Bob Leary, national accounts manager at Sonepar and IECF trustee. “Critical equipment like a laptop can make a huge difference for an apprentice just getting into the trades, particularly in underserved communities. A certain laptop may no longer meet our stringent IT requirements but be exactly what an apprentice needs to access learning material and prepare for a career as an electrical contractor. It’s also a sustainable approach, extending the life of technical equipment that would otherwise be out of commission.”

Dean Kredit, IECF treasurer and founder of K2 Electric in Phoenix, AZ, serves as IECF equipment grants chair. He is grateful to generous sponsors. Since he’s now retired, he appreciates that he is able to devote more time to the Foundation’s important work.

“As Foundation treasurer, I really see the potential of our equipment grants program,” says Dean. “As a National past president, I know a lot of the industry partners and the value of working with these partners who create the type of equipment that we need in our chapter labs to prepare future electricians. A student coming out of our program today is fortunate to have access to advanced labs so they can continue to improve their skills.”

Dean says it’s been personally rewarding for him to see the amazing support from partners when they understand the direct value they can provide. They keep thinking about how they can do even more. He says Sonepar’s recent involvement is a great example.

“They realized that they could refurbish and recondition laptops and tablets to donate to students,” Dean explains. “This is phenomenal as a lot of our young people don’t have access to these tools or the cost is prohibitive for them to buy them as new apprentices. As all our industry partner representatives imagine the possibilities, they take the Foundation story to their upper management who then sees what the IEC Foundation is about and what they can help us accomplish.”

Dean and Tom invite you to ask your chapter executive directors what donations they have received and then take the time to thank your industry partner representative. They believe this goes a long way to building ongoing support when they hear about just how important their donations are to the industry.

“Our esteemed donors provide a great service when they create opportunities for shipments of donated equipment,” says LaNa Al-Amin, Foundation executive director. “This initiative not only supports our IEC chapters but also promotes sustainability within the industry. By contributing equipment and resources, our donors play a vital role in shaping the future while enhancing their reach and visibility.”

Equipment grants are made available throughout the year to IEC chapters as partners donate, and equipment also is granted annually through the Foundation’s formal application process. Chapter executive directors should watch the Foundation website and emails for the opening of the 2025 IEC Equipment Grant Application period in the first quarter of 2025.

“We believe that these collaborative efforts not only strengthen our chapters but also pave the way for a more sustainable and innovative future in the electrical industry,” adds Tom. “We are excited to continue working with our partners to achieve these goals and look forward to exploring new opportunities for collaboration.”