March 6, 2008, Ottawa – On Saturday, February 16, 2008, children from six United Way/Centraide Ottawa funded agencies gathered at Scotiabank Place to watch the Ottawa Senators take on New Jersey, thanks to GM’s Community Wheels program.
“GM Canada is committed to promoting the well-being of communities,” says Diane Lehman, Manager, Charitable Donations, GM Canada. “The GM Community Wheels program provides essential mobility solutions to agencies. But we also want to take it a step further than providing just basic necessities. We want to create some fun too for some deserving kids.”
The 2008 Chevrolet Uplander and Pontiac Montana vans donated by GM Canada to community agencies 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. On this night however, the vans were used to give children an evening of excitement watching the Ottawa Senators – something which might otherwise not be possible for them. Not only were they driven to the game, but GM also took care of getting the tickets and snacks for the kids.
“GM Canada is a valued supporter of United Way and our community building activities,” says Michael Allen, President and CEO, United Way Ottawa. “They have stepped up to help year after year by donating these vans for our community agencies. And now, they’ve also given the Ottawa Senators some new fans.”
In recognition of GM’s outstanding generosity, the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre presented them with a Good Corporate Citizen award.
“The GM Community Wheels van continues to be a valuable resource for us,” says Cathy Jordan, Executive Director, Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre. “We use it every day to drive clients to our adult day program, to Diner’s Clubs and to pick up weekly groceries for Chrysalis House, our 25-bed shelter for abused women.”
The GM Community Wheels vans picked up children from the Ottawa community agencies and delivered them to Scotiabank Place where they enjoyed the game from the GM Power Seats. The children who attended the game were from the following agencies: Le Patro d’Ottawa, Debra Dynes Family House, South East Ottawa Centre for a Healthy Community, Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre, Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre and Orleans-Cumberland Community 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.