Waukesha - GE Healthcare is giving Hebron House of Hospitality $25,000 to address homelessness, and its employees are making a commitment over the next year to volunteer more and contribute more to help the agency.
The cash donation will be presented Monday by Jim Davis, GE Healthcare vice president and general manager of magnetic resonance, at Hebron's new homeless shelter on Northview Road. The money comes from the 'chairman's award,' a contribution from General Electric Co. chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt based on the Waukesha unit's performance and earmarked toward a charity of the company's choosing.
'It's an absolutely wonderful surprise,' said Bernie Juno, executive director of Hebron. She said the money will help pay for operating the men's homeless shelter and contribute toward the purchase price of the building, a former school. Hebron is planning to develop a service center involving representatives of other agencies that serve the homeless.
Hebron House is also working to building an eight-unit apartment building serving people with physical, mental or other disabilities at 620 Summit Ave.
Juno said the collaboration with GE Healthcare employees means more manpower in terms of volunteering at the agency's shelters and additional funds or supplies that help offset expenses.