General Motors Foundation and Chevrolet Help Distressed Neighborhoods

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The General Motors Foundation is providing a $1 million grant to Habitat for Humanity International to help with neighborhood revitalization efforts in 12 U.S. cities. The grant was presented Thursday by Foundation President and GM Director of Corporate Relations Vivian Pickard during the Washington Auto Show.

From financial support for new construction, home repair and rehabilitation, weatherization efforts and more, the GM Foundation's support of Habitat means that work will be underway in neighborhoods in Arlington and Austin, Texas; Atlanta; Baltimore; Chicago; Denver; Detroit and Lansing, Mich.; Los Angeles; Nashville; New Orleans and Phoenix.

"This grant will help construct healthier neighborhoods and an improved sense of community," said Pickard. "In addition to the Foundation's grant, our teamGM Cares employee volunteers will help low-income families rebuild and restore their homes and participate in other vital community projects."

In December, Chevrolet donated to Habitat for Humanity International 24 Express cargo vans to create the organization's first-ever fleet of mobile response units. The vehicles, filled with tools and equipment from Lowe's and Robert Bosch Tool Corporation, are currently dispatched with volunteers assisting with Hurricane Sandy response efforts in New York and New Jersey.

"General Motors has already joined Habitat for Humanity to address a critical need following Hurricane Sandy," said Larry Gluth, senior vice president of US & Canada operations for Habitat for Humanity International. "Today, the company is building on its commitment, and we are very grateful to the GM Foundation for its generosity." 

Upon delivering the Habitat for Humanity mobile response units to the impacted region, teamGM Cares volunteers worked in a number of locations, including at the flood-ravaged Union Beach Emergency Medical Services station in Union Beach, N.J. The experience inspired Chevrolet's donation of a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe to the Union Beach EMS squad that was on the front lines during Hurricane Sandy. Chevy Regional Director Dan Adamcheck announced the vehicle donation to Union Beach EMS Chief Carlos Rodriguez from the Chevrolet exhibit at the Washington Auto Show.

"The Chevrolet Tahoe will serve as a daily reminder that the citizens of Union Beach have not been forgotten," said Rodriguez. "We extend our heartfelt thanks to Chevrolet and to the teamGM Cares volunteers for traveling with us on the long road to recovery."

In addition to the GM Foundation and Chevrolet's support of Habitat for Humanity, GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson this month sold his Regal Turquoise 1958 Corvette in the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction for $270,000 with all proceeds benefitting Habitat for Humanity Detroit's projects in the Morningside Commons neighborhood. Last year, Akerson and his wife, Karin, personally donated $1 million as the cornerstone contribution for the "Leaders to ReBuild Detroit" campaign.

About the GM Foundation
Since its inception in 1976, the GM Foundation has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to American charities, educational organizations and to disaster relief efforts worldwide. The GM Foundation focuses on supporting Education, Health and Human Services, Environment and Energy and Community Development initiatives, mainly in the communities where GM operates.  Funding of the GM Foundation comes solely from GM.  The last contribution to the GM Foundation was made in 2001. For more information, visit www.gm.com/gmfoundation.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.5 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is a global nonprofit Christian housing organization that seeks to put God's love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Since 1976, Habitat has served more than 600,000 families by welcoming people of all races, religions and nationalities to construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. For more information, to donate or to volunteer, please visit www.habitat.org, or follow us at www.facebook.com/habitat or at www.twitter.com/habitat_org or join Habitat's blog community at www.habitat.org/blog.

SOURCE General Motors