Puyallup resident receives President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for volunteerism efforts

The Machinists Union District 751 stands for two things: justice on the job and service to the community.

One of its members, Boeing employee Rob Curran, knows more than a little bit about volunteering. He spends most of his free time giving back to the community. Curran, a Puyallup resident, is a maintenance plumber and union steward at Boeing. He also serves as chair of the Machinist’s Volunteer Program (MVP).

Curran recently received the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award, which credited him for more than 4,000 hours of volunteer work. His actual hour count was 4,445 hours of community service work through the Machinists Union since 2007, with 830 of those hours coming in 2015.

“The work that (those in the MVP) do literally every week makes our communities better,” said Connie Kelliher, communications representative for Machinists Union District 751. “We are proud of them for getting this recognition because they don’t do it for the credit. They like to help other people out and make their lives better.”

Along with the award, Curran received a letter from President Obama thanking him for his “devotion to service and for doing all you can to shape a better tomorrow for our great nation.”

The union’s MVPs donated 12,680 hours of community service last year. Curran made it his goal for the last five years to achieve those 4,000 hours of volunteer service.

He volunteers with three Pierce County community service agencies: The Rescue Mission in Tacoma, Project Homeless Connect, which provides services to homeless people and families; and the Toy Rescue Mission, which works to be sure children in low income families have gifts for birthdays, Christmas and Easter.

Curran said the award means a great deal.

“I take a lot of pride in helping people out and helping members of our community,” he said.

Helping the community runs in his family; Curran’s mother was a very giving person and always reached out to others.

After working his shift at Boeing, Curran routinely hits the road with as many volunteers as he can get and puts in another shift helping others.

“The dedication from Rob is amazing,” said Martha Davis, executive director for the Toy Rescue Mission. “The thing about Rob that impresses me the most is that he gets up and works his eight-hour day and then comes here right after work.”

“Volunteering is my passion. If I can make life a little better for people, then I will — particularly the kids,” Curran said.

Curran said he has never been homeless, but he has a passion for those in need.

“We are all blessed in life and we need to help others out.” he said. “We all need helping hands, and this is my way of giving back to the community.”

Kelliher said the union prides itself on giving back to the community.

“We aren’t just about making lives better for our members, we want to make them better for the community,” she said.

This story was originally published July 13, 2016 at 11:23 AM with the headline "Puyallup resident receives President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for volunteerism efforts."