GMC Delivers to Community Projects

DETROIT, May 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- When new vehicle shoppers open the 2012 GMC catalog, which arrives at dealerships this summer, they will see the brand's professional grade pickup trucks, SUVs and crossovers doing real work in real-world settings.

GMC's Sierra, Yukon, Acadia, Terrain, Canyon and Savana will be seen in real-life community service projects such as towing a rainwater cistern on a farm in Florida, hauling historic yacht construction supplies and a 12-foot-wide metal sculpture in New York, transporting quadriplegic athletes to team workouts in Texas, and towing a livestock chute at a wild horse sanctuary in California.

"GMC vehicles help organizations and individuals across the country get work done every day, on projects that rarely get the attention they deserve," said John Schwegman, U.S. vice president, GMC Marketing. "That is why GMC is providing vehicles to five projects that are making a positive impact in their communities."    

GMC provided short-term loans of:

• Three Sierras and a Canyon to Geraldson Community Farm in Bradenton, Fla., for the delivery and installation of an innovative water conservation system;
• Three Sierras and two Acadias to haul supplies for The Onrust Project in Schenectady, N.Y. The Onrust, five years in the making, is a replica of the first Dutch yacht built in America using authentic 17th century Dutch building techniques. When finished The Onrust will be a floating museum and classroom for teaching the early European history of the Northeastern United States;
• Three Sierras, a Yukon and a Terrain to transport raw material and three metal-worked sculptures for public exhibit made along the Appalachian Trail at Harmony Ridge in Branchville, N.J., by renowned artist Robert Lobe. The 12-foot-wide tree sculptures were moved from Lobe's studio space in Newark to Prospect Park in Brooklyn;
• A group of GMC vehicles, including Savanas to Terrains, helped transport a U.S. quadriplegic rugby team, the Texas Stampede, and its equipment to and from workouts and scrimmages in Texas;
• Sierras, Canyons and Yukons to help conservationists maintain the  American Wild Horse Sanctuary at Return to Freedom Ranch in Santa Barbara, Calif., by supporting daily ranch activities, as well as transporting materials.

"Hauling materials to build a 30-ton 17th century historic yacht is not for the lightweights. GMC vehicles are heavy duty, but handle like a Sunday drive in the park," said Don Rittner, president of The Onrust Project. "When we had to move a ton of 400-year-old wood from the boat shed to the warehouse, the GMC Sierra made it seem like we were hauling toothpicks." 

The new GMC catalog also is the first to have digital interactive and social media components. There are embedded quick-response codes that allow smartphone users to access a custom mobile site with exclusive video about the vehicles and these community projects, and link to the GMC Facebook Community Projects tab enabling fans to learn more.

"GMC vehicles are helping us connect people to high-quality local food, increase market access for small farmers, and promote cost-effective water conservation measures in agriculture," said Jacob Leech, acting executive director, Geraldson Community Farm.

GMC also is issuing a version of the project's mobile site for those with camera-enabled tablets such as the Apple iPad 2.

"The way consumers connect with brands and research their next vehicle purchases is different today than it was just a couple of years ago," said John Gasloli, GMC advertising and sales promotion manager. "The 2012 catalog provides customers with a multimedia format, fully integrating photography and video, print and social media."

About GMC

GMC has built trucks since 1902, and is one of the industry's healthiest brands. Today GMC is evolving to offer more fuel-efficient trucks and crossovers, including the Terrain small SUV and Acadia crossover. The new GMC Sierra Heavy Duty pickups are the most capable and powerful trucks in the market.  Innovation and engineering excellence are woven into all GMCs, including the Yukon and Yukon XL and full line of Sierra pickups. Today, GMC is the only manufacturer offering three full-size hybrid trucks. Details on all GMC models are available at www.gmc.com, on Twitter at @thisisgmc or at www.facebook.com/gmc.

SOURCE General Motors