The estate of Helen Watkins, wife of former IAM General Vice President George Watkins, has made another generous donation to the IAM, this time to the Guide Dogs of America (GDA). The Watkins’ Living Trust is donating $50,000 to the IAM charity.
George and Helen created the Trust to support organizations they believed in once they both passed away. George died in 1993 and Helen passed away in June 2012.
The generous couple, married for 61 years and active in civic and charitable organizations, made a $20,000 donation to the IAM William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center earlier this month.
George Watkins started working for the IAM in 1935. He became a Business Representative in 1946, a Grand Lodge Representative in 1950 and he served as a General Vice President from 1959 until he retired in 1973.
“Thank you to George and Helen for their continued support of their union,” said IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger. “Thanks to their generosity, GDA can further its mission of changing the lives of those who are blind or visually-impaired. A mission only made possible through thoughtful contributions from people like George and Helen. We are very grateful.”
