(Left) Parade Grand Marshal Chris Ulbrich and wife, Tammie, at Wallingford’s 350th anniversary celebration. Wallingford YMCA. (Right) The Ulbrich Outreach team that helped build the new Ulbrich Steel playscape at the East branch of the Wallingford YMCA.
Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals, Inc., manufactures hundreds of alloy products. It also has a long family legacy of supporting organizations that develop youth and community in Connecticut in the Wallingford, Meriden, and North Haven areas. Below, the company outlines what it has done.
The Ulbrich tradition of giving back to the local community has been consistent throughout the four generations of the family business.
On May 27, 1963, the Boys Club of Wallingford was founded by a group of dedicated citizens that included Fred Ulbrich, Jr., the son of Ulbrich Steel founder Fred Ulbrich, Sr. It served the community, and two years later was accepted into membership by the Boys Club of America. In the 1980s, girls were admitted as full-time members, and the Boys & Girls Club of Wallingford opened its doors to a new facility on July 3, 1995. On Sept. 9, 1995, in recognition of years of support, the club was officially renamed the Ulbrich Boys & Girls Club, with Fred the co-chairman.
Fred Ulbrich, Jr., was also a founding member of the Wallingford Rotary Club, the former Director of the Oakdale Musical Theater, and campaign Chairman of the United Way of Meriden and Wallingford. His life epitomized philanthropy. He died April 12, 2014, and the Fred Ulbrich Memorial Fund was created in 2015 by his three sons: Chris, Derek and Jason Ulbrich. The Fund has continued Fred’s mission, helping numerous community programs that include music, arts, sports and education.
In 2019, the Ulbrich Boys & Girls Club expanded into North Haven and is currently operating out of seven locations across the two towns. In July 2022, it merged as part of the creation of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater New Haven, which now provides services to thousands of youths in the region.
In 2020, the town of Wallingford was set to celebrate 350 years since its incorporation in 1670. The Covid pandemic delayed the celebration, but on June 18, 2022, the town of Wallingford finally held the long-anticipated parade. The two-mile route was filled with over 2,000 marchers from companies and community organizations across Wallingford.
Ulbrich was the major sponsor and one of the leaders of the parade was CEO Chris Ulbrich as the Grand Marshal, riding in a bright red 1963 Cadillac Series 62 convertible. sitting in style alongside his wife, Tammie, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives for the Ulbrich Boys & Girls Club. Ulbrich employees and Community Outreach Team members proudly marched with their families beside the Ulbrich Steel and Ulbrich Boys & Girls Club floats.
Furthermore, the YMCA’s summer program for childcare is named Camp Ulbrich, in honor of Fred Ulbrich, Sr.’s extensive support and fund-raising efforts. His community- minded philanthropic legacy lives on, as he was a giant of a man when it came to helping children and those less fortunate than him.
Throughout the years, Ulbrich employees have also been an important part of the efforts. The company has encouraged them to join in to better the lives of children in their communities, and many have done just that.
In January 2020, the Ulbrich Philanthropy Committee was created by the Ulbrich Family in order to manage, evaluate and distribute all donations to non-profit organizations that directly impact our community. It is directed by Chair Liliana Ulbrich, Marie Ulbrich and Susan Ulbrich.
Over the years, the Ulbrich family has donated millions of dollars to community causes. It is safe to say that the Ulbrich name has been synonymous with giving back: the philanthropic legacy lives on through the Ulbrich family and Ulbrich employees, and all those they have served.
Manufacturers GIVING BACK
This is part 7 of Wire Journal International's first-ever feature presenting 16 manufacturers that have given back to their communities: hundreds others could just as easily have been here. Each entry has a unique story, yet the common thread is the people—of all ranks—who care about their companies as well as their communities. Big volunteer efforts deserve applause, but so do smaller ones as they all head in the same direction. In a time when there is seldom a lack of daunting news, one can take pride in the industry spirit.
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Companies Featured:
Hitachi Cable America (now Proterial Cable America), Viakable, Acme Wire Products, High-Performance Conductors (HPC), Kris-Tech, Allied Wire, Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals, Inc., Cerrowire, Belden, Fort Wayne Metals, Optimus Steel, Prysmian, Minnesota Wire, Southwire, Service Wire, Alloy Wire International
Bonus Content:
> Employer alert! Volunteers make for a better workforce.
> How can a small business start a ‘giving back’ program?
