Near-Hits & NAPA Care
AFTER A CLOSE CALL, VINCE HAFELI ISSUES A CHECK. AND A CHALLENGE.
Looking back, Ajax Paving Industries of Florida’s Vince Hafeli said he just remembers how grateful he was to sit in the emergency room with his employee a few hours after the incident on Oct. 22.
A similar work zone intrusion about a year earlier had claimed a life, and Hafeli was all too aware of how the consequences could have been much more than one injury. According to Hafeli, if the impaired motorist had entered the work zone just seconds earlier, the vehicle would have hit a worker before striking the paver. A few minutes earlier and the entire paving crew would have been in danger as they worked on the joint.
Hafeli said he got past the bitterness of knowing a months-long recovery awaited his injured worker by focusing on his ability to sit and listen with him in the emergency room and observe his positive attitude just hours after the incident.
Hafeli wrote a letter to NAPA and enclosed a check payable to the NAPA Research & Education Foundation (NAPAREF) for $7,500 – the same amount that NAPA Care pays out immediately to the families of workers at member companies who are fatally injured.
In his letter, Hafeli wrote that if NAPA’s entire membership were to contribute each time a life was not lost in a near-hit, “we could perhaps grow the NAPAREF reserves and increase the dollar amount we award to families when there is a loss.”
NAPA Chairman Pat Nelson heard about the letter and the donation, and shared it with his network, explaining that this was an industry-wide call to action.
“This inspiring demonstration of gratitude is a call for all of us to respond similarly,” he said.
Hafeli closed his letter with three hopes:
- “I never have to send another $7,500.
- I never have to notify NAPA on behalf of a family member that we lost someone.
- Other members will follow Ajax’s lead.”
NAPA CARE EMERGENCY BENEVOLENT FUND
NAPA Associate Members established the NAPA Care Emergency Benevolent Fund to support the family of a NAPA member employee who suffers a fatal accident while working in the line of duty. The family may be eligible to receive an immediate, tax-free cash benefit from the NAPA Care Fund.
The Fund is administered by the National Asphalt Pavement Association Research and Education Foundation (NAPAREF) and was initiated by the Associate Member Council. Through the generous financial support of NAPA members, the fund has benefited 38 families since 2012, providing a helping hand in the midst of a tragedy and sending the message that the industry cares.
The NAPA Care Fund relies on donations from NAPA member companies and individuals to ensure that NAPAREF can continue to provide emergency financial support to our workers. Direct tax-deductible donations can be made to the fund.
Additional funds are raised through special events and fundraisers. All donations to the NAPA Care Emergency Benevolent Fund will be made to NAPAREF and are taxdeductible as provided by law. Please consult your tax advisor for applicable tax information.
For more information, contact Melanie Richardson.