GREAT RIVER, NY — The Building & Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk Counties (BCTC), AFL-CIO, believes solidarity extends far beyond the job site. It means investing in local communities, supporting organizations that change lives, and creating opportunities for Long Islanders through the collective strength of union labor.
On Wednesday, October 14, the Council hosted its 19th Annual Jack Kennedy Memorial Golf Outing at Timber Point Golf Club in Great River, bringing together Building Trades Union Leaders, labor partners, local businesses, professionals, and community supporters to raise funds for charitable causes and honor the legacy of a leader who dedicated his career to working people.
Over the course two decades, the annual outing has demonstrated how the labor movement can turn solidarity into action. Together, partners within the Council utilize support from various organizations that provide essential services, expand opportunities, and strengthen communities throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Labor’s Commitment Beyond the Job Site
The outing honors Jack Kennedy, former president of the Building & Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk Counties, was a dedicated advocate for labor rights and the construction trades, guided by the belief that a strong labor movement benefits not only its members but the broader community.
His philosophy was captured in his words: “All that serves labor serves the nation.”
Jack Kennedy’s devotion to the trades left Long Island’s Workforce was instrumental in creating a blueprint that could fend off adversity. Jack’s uncommon work ethic, and vision were clearly evident as he routinely aligned union leadership by sharing the message that “a fight against one, is a fight against us all’.
Today, the memorial outing carries that legacy forward by connecting the principles President Kennedy championed with a tangible commitment to community service. Under the leadership of current BCTC President, Matty Aracich, the event brings labor leaders and community partners together through a shared goal: supporting organizations that make a meaningful difference in the lives of Long Islanders.
The annual fundraiser reflects a broader commitment by the Council and its affiliated unions to use the strength of organized labor to support local needs, build lasting partnerships, and help ensure that resources reach organizations serving the community.
Fundraising Invests in Long Island’s Future
The Council’s charitable efforts support organizations that address critical needs across the region, including behavioral health services and pathways to employment.
Among the organizations supported is Outreach, a New York-based provider of behavioral health services that has spent more than 45 years helping individuals and families build healthier lives. Through evidence-based, person-centered care delivered by qualified professionals, Outreach works to expand access to behavioral health services and helps people reach their full potential.
The Council also supports Opportunities Long Island, a pre-apprenticeship and readiness program that helps young people from disadvantaged communities prepare for careers in the building trades and other fields.
That investment in workforce development reflects a core principle of the labor movement: opportunity should be accessible to those willing to work for it. By supporting programs that help young people build skills and prepare for meaningful careers, the Council helps strengthen the future workforce while creating pathways to economic opportunity.
Bolstering the initiatives of The United Way focuses on primary areas to help individuals and families thrive: Supporting education and mentorship from early childhood through career readiness. Expanding access to healthcare, nutritious food, and maternal or child health services. Providing adult and financial education, job training, and small business support. Community Resiliency: Delivering disaster relief, crisis support, and long-term community recovery.
Food banks, such as Island Harvest count on the generosity of groups like the Building Trades to assist in helping those with “Food Insecurity” at a time when Veterans, Single Parents and an aging population find it impossible to make ends meet.
Together, these organizations represent the kind of community investment that organized labor can help advance through fundraising, partnerships, and a shared commitment to improving lives.
Turning Solidarity Into Action
The Jack Kennedy Memorial Golf Outing is more than an annual gathering. It is an example of how unions mobilize their networks, build relationships with community partners, and raise support for causes that extend beyond the workplace. The Building & Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk Counties community involvement is simply an extension of labor’s mission. The same solidarity that brings union members together on the job can also bring people and resources together to support families, expand access to services, and open doors for the next generation of workers.
As the Council continues this nearly two-decade tradition, the purpose remains clear: honor Jack Kennedy’s legacy by investing in the people and organizations that make Long Island stronger.
Through labor-focused fundraising and lasting community partnerships, the Building Trades Council is demonstrating that solidarity is not just about standing together at work—it is about showing up for the community, investing in its future, and putting the collective strength of organized labor to work for all Long Islanders.
Tags: Union Labor, Union Workers, charity