NECA is proud to announce a new philanthropic partnership with MATES North America as the beneficiary of the 2026 NECA Convention & Trade Show fundraising initiative. The partnership was announced at the NECA Safety Professionals Conference (NSPC) in Atlanta, ahead of the Convention taking place in Las Vegas later this year.

This campaign reflects NECA's deep commitment to the health, safety, and wellbeing of electrical workers, not only on the jobsite, but in every aspect of their lives.

NECA is launching a 2026 fundraising campaign in support of the MATES North America Pilot Program. All funds raised through this campaign will go directly to MATES' program delivery at pilot sites across North America.

MATES is a comprehensive suicide prevention program developed by and for the construction industry. Its mission is to save lives through peer support and early intervention by shifting culture on jobsites to encourage more mental health conversations and inspire a unified industry response to suicide. This evidence-based program, which has demonstrated success in Australia and New Zealand, is now being pilot-tested in North America.

"At NECA, safety extends far beyond physical hazards on the jobsite," said Pete Mastrorocco, NECA's Senior Vice President of Education, Events and Partnerships. "Partnering with MATES North America gives our industry an opportunity to come together in support of mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and meaningful cultural change that can save lives."

By making MATES North America the focus of this year's Convention philanthropy effort, NECA is reinforcing the message that mental health and suicide prevention are essential priorities for the electrical construction industry.

"Mental health is a critical part of overall worker safety and wellbeing," said Wes Wheeler, NECA's Executive Director of Safety. "The construction industry continues to face significant challenges related to mental health and suicide prevention, and programs like MATES North America are helping create open dialogue, peer support, and practical resources that can make a real difference."

Mike Starner, NECA's Executive Director of Outside Line Safety and Industry Engagement, emphasized the importance of industry-wide involvement in the initiative.

"Our workforce depends on strong support systems both on and off the jobsite," said Starner. "This partnership represents an important step toward building a safer, healthier culture across the electrical industry and ensuring workers know they are never alone."

NECA believes that safety and health are core values and an integral part of achieving excellence in the electrical contracting business. The association maintains the highest standards of health, safety, quality, and productivity through a proactive, practical, and responsible approach to organizational loss control, including mental health and suicide prevention initiatives.

The 2026 NECA Convention & Trade Show will be held in Las Vegas. Industry supporters are encouraged to donate, share the campaign, and help the electrical construction industry lead the way on mental health awareness and suicide prevention.

To learn more about MATES North America and the pilot program and it’s work with NECA, visit NECA’s outreach webpage.