GM Employees Donate $28,500 to Help Tornado Victims in Oklahoma

FLINT, Mich., June 4, 2013 /3BL Media/ – General Motors Co. employees around the country have so far raised approximately $28,500 to help people in tornado-ravaged Oklahoma.

In some instances, plant collections by GM and the UAW have been supplemented with donations from GM retirees, contract workers, dealers and suppliers, who pitched in to provide assistance to tornado victims in the Oklahoma City region, which was hit by a series of deadly twisters in a span of less than two weeks.

The donations will go to Detroit-based Forgotten Harvest’s “Help 4 Oklahoma” campaign, a partnership created by Forgotten Harvest, the General Motors Foundation, Chevrolet, Art Van, WDIV Local 4, WJR News/Talk 760, the Detroit Media Partnership, Garden Fresh Gourmet, Absopure and Great Lakes Wines & Spirits.

The GM Foundation joined the effort with the lead donation of $50,000. Chevrolet donated a 2013 Silverado full-size pickup to help with cleanup and restoration efforts.

“It’s important for us to be there to help our neighbors who are hurting and our support of the ‘Help 4 Oklahoma’ campaign is a great way to make a difference,” said Lori Wingerter, vice president, GM Foundation. “Through donations and key partnerships with organizations like Forgotten Harvest, we’re able to step up and help provide immediate relief when disaster strikes.”

GM employees donating to Forgotten Harvest, to date:

GM employees elsewhere found other ways to help tornado victims. In Spring Hill, Tenn., GM employees and UAW members, along with suppliers and people in the community donated more than $12,000 in gift cards and filled three, 50-foot trailers with supplies, including soup, water, dog food, diapers and other necessities. In Fairfax, some assembly plant employees plan to travel to Oklahoma to assist with cleanup and rebuilding activities.

Additionally, GM employees also spent time raising funds to help victims of tornadoes that ripped through the Flint area last week. While no one was injured, more than 100 homes were damaged or destroyed and more than $2.5 million in damage occurred.

Flint-area GM plants have raised more than $1,400 for victims in Flint with additional fund-raisers planned.

General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.