January 31, 2008, Ottawa – Today, United Way Ottawa announced that General Motors of Canada (GM) through its GM Community Wheels program has refreshed the fleet of vehicles provided annually to Ottawa community agencies with brand new 2008 Chevrolet Uplander and Pontiac Montana vans, equipped with OnStar. GM Community Wheels is a transportation program that provides GM vehicles and covers gas and maintenance expenses to selected community agencies across Canada.
“GM’s generous contribution goes a long way to help this community,” said Michael Allen, President and CEO of United Way/Centraide Ottawa. “This is a really creative way to make a difference in people’s lives and we’re thrilled to have GM’s continued support.”
Since 2004, GM has provided six vans annually as an in-kind donation to United Way/Centraide, enhancing the capacity of community agencies to provide services to their clients.
“GM Canada has deep respect for the tremendous work done by United Way/Centraide Ottawa and the community agencies it supports,” said David Paterson, Vice-President, Corporate and Environmental Affairs, General Motors of Canada. “We are proud to provide mobility solutions to the agencies that help improve people’s lives throughout the community.”
The vans are used for a variety of purposes by the participating organizations – to transport seniors to medical appointments, to take kids or family shelter residents on outings, to deliver in-kind items from donors to agencies, , and to help with emergency food delivery programs.
“Our GM van is as essential to this agency as this agency is for our clients,” said Barbara Carroll, Executive Director, Debra Dynes Family House. “It seems like a simple need, but it is one that makes a world of difference in our day-to-day operations.”
In Ottawa, the GM Community Wheels vans are used by Le Patro d’Ottawa, Centre de services Guigues, Debra Dynes Family House, Banff Avenue Community House, South East Ottawa Centre for a Healthy Community, Confederation Court Community House, Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre, Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre, Orleans-Cumberland Community Resource Centre, Overbrook-Forbes Community Resource Centre and the Inuit Family Resource Centre.
About United Way/Centraide Ottawa
United Way Ottawa’s mission is to bring people and resources together to build a strong, healthy, safe, community for all. By bringing people together from all parts of our community to identify, develop and provide solutions to community needs, we promise that the donations we receive go where they are needed most. In 2008, United Way Ottawa made a record community investment to support more than 200 projects, programs and partnerships, in more than 100 community organizations.