Chrysler Group Employees Honor the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. With a Week of Community Service

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In 1994, Congress designated the federal holiday marking the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a national day of service – a "day on, not a day off." Accordingly, Chrysler Group LLC employees in southeastern Michigan are answering the call to action by kicking off the company's fifth annual "MLK Week of Service."

From Jan. 21-26, more than 100 Chrysler Group employees will participate in a wide variety of community service projects including: preparing and serving meals at The Baldwin Center and the Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS); installing bathroom floor tiles and cabinets at HAVEN; partnering with Habitat for Humanity to renovate a home in Detroit; and helping Macomb-area Special Olympics athletes enjoy an afternoon of bowling.

"Dr. King once said that, 'Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?'," recalled Jody Trapasso, Senior Vice President - External Affairs, Chrysler Group LLC and President - The Chrysler Foundation. "Chrysler Group and our employees are answering Dr. King's call to do for others through volunteerism, providing financial support through our charitable initiatives, and creating jobs through our facilities."

To further enable and encourage activities like the MLK Week of Service, Chrysler Group established a new corporate policy that allows employees, up to 18 hours per year of their normal working hours, to take part in company-sponsored charitable or public-service activities.

"Last year, through the overwhelming generosity of our employees, Chrysler Group community service initiatives touched the lives of more than 260,000 people in the communities in which we work and live," added Trapasso.

A portion of the Company's charitable activities is managed by its philanthropic arm, The Chrysler Foundation. Since its inception in 1953, The Chrysler Foundation has awarded more than $500 million in charitable grants to a wide variety of charitable organizations and initiatives.

Additionally, Chrysler Group has invested $1.7 billion in its southeastern Michigan plants since June 2009. As a result, its employment in the state has grown 34 percent to about 26,600 (as of June 30, 2012).

About Chrysler Group LLC
Chrysler Group LLC, formed in 2009 to establish a global strategic alliance with Fiat S.p.A., produces Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Mopar, SRT and Fiat vehicles and products. With the resources, technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete on a global scale, the alliance builds on Chrysler Group's culture of innovation, first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925, and Fiat's complementary technology that dates back to its founding in 1899.

Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., Chrysler Group's product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler 300 and Town & Country, Jeep Wrangler, all-new Dodge Dart, Ram 1500, Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 and Fiat 500. Fiat contributes world-class technology, platforms and powertrains for small- and medium-size cars, allowing Chrysler Group to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.

SOURCE Chrysler Group LLC