Providing heating assistance to Michigan families Detroit - UAW President Rory L. Gamble has been unanimously elected to serve on the Board of Directors of THAW, The Heat and Warmth Fund, an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, that has been helping to keep Michigan families warm through utility assistance since 1985. THAW provides assistance to vulnerable Michigan residents through 39 agency partners and a series of annual mobile processing events. Since its inception in 1985, THAW has distributed over $190 million in assistance to more than 256,000 Michigan households. Last year, THAW distributed more than $15 million in utility assistance to nearly 18,000 Michigan households, helping families stay warm in the winter and protecting them against water shutoffs.