GM Foundation Donates $500K To Japan

[William Maley]

GM Foundation Contributes $500K to Japan Relief Effort

2011-03-14

DETROIT -- The General Motors Foundation today approved an immediate $500,000 contribution to the American Red Cross relief fund to help earthquake-stricken Japan. GM also has provided a direct web-link that employees can conveniently access from their desktop work stations to contribute personally to the Red Cross disaster fund. Today’s donation is in addition to the GM Foundation’s earlier contribution of $250,000 to the Red Cross as a supporting member of their Disaster Responder program.

"Humanitarian relief is an important part of the Foundation’s work and we’re answering the call for help in the wake of such terrible devastation,” said John T. Montford, Chairman of the GM Foundation and Senior Advisor for Government Relations and Global Public Policy. “There is remarkable compassion among GM employees, and I know that same spirit will make a difference in helping the Japan relief effort.”

For over three decades the GM Foundation has provided financial support to the U.S. and cities around the world rocked by natural disasters. Recent contributions have helped relief efforts toward the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, Haiti and floods in Tennessee and Kentucky.

Since its inception in 2000, GM Global Aid has facilitated millions of dollars in donations for disaster relief worldwide. Through this program, GM and its national and international business units and the GM Foundation can quickly direct vehicles, services, or supplies, as well as monetary contributions, to charitable organizations assisting in local disaster relief efforts. An essential component of GM's disaster relief efforts is that which allows GM employees and others worldwide to contribute funds to disaster relief efforts. Donations from the GM Global Aid fund come from the GM Foundation, which was created in 1976.

[Croc]

Good. I like seeing a company do the right thing when they definitely don't have to.

[GMTruckGuy74]

I mean no disrepect, but nothing would please me more than seeing GMC Sierra HDs and Chevrolet Silverado HDs being sent over to help in the clean-up and rescue/recovery aid. Like back in November, 2004 when GM, through Hummer, donated Hummer vehicles and money ($4 million over 6 years):

Link: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2004/11/10/277170.1-lg.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2004/11/10/277170.html&usg=__IZZ0MYdALFyHgewo-Avl324FJps=&h=211&w=400&sz=21&hl=en&start=13&zoom=1&tbnid=9lzpFxA6aTlnSM:&tbnh=65&tbnw=124&ei=kDWBTYSSI8fTgQf9_72QCA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dred%2Bcross%2Bhummer%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1

Edited March 16, 2011 by GMTruckGuy74

[CSpec]

Good. I like seeing a company do the right thing when they definitely don't have to.

It's quite the wrong thing. Japan has been pleading with people to NOT send them earmarked aid like this. It's a big profit opportunity for American charities to get a bunch of money that Japan does not want or need. The New York Times backs me up.

[Intrepidation]

And yet they can't get food and water to people freezing in the hardest hit areas, 5 days after the quake.

[daves87rs]

Hmmm...good and bad I see.

[Croc]

Good. I like seeing a company do the right thing when they definitely don't have to.

It's quite the wrong thing. Japan has been pleading with people to NOT send them earmarked aid like this. It's a big profit opportunity for American charities to get a bunch of money that Japan does not want or need. The New York Times backs me up.

No, not really. From your own "source":

At present, the Japanese society is not launching a national or international appeal, but expressions of solidarity in the form of unearmarked financial contributions would be gratefully received.

[CSpec]

Good. I like seeing a company do the right thing when they definitely don't have to.

It's quite the wrong thing. Japan has been pleading with people to NOT send them earmarked aid like this. It's a big profit opportunity for American charities to get a bunch of money that Japan does not want or need. The New York Times backs me up.

No, not really. From your own "source":

At present, the Japanese society is not launching a national or international appeal, but expressions of solidarity in the form of unearmarked financial contributions would be gratefully received.

And who did GM give their money to? Exactly the group that Japan said don't give your money to.

Also, lol at your derision of the NY Times as a "source".

[CSpec]

See, THIS is a country that actually needs donations because it's poor: Ivory Coast’s Health System Collapses, MSF Steps in

[Croc]

"Source" was in quotation marks because you cited it as backing up your argument when like the second paragraph contradicted you, NOT because of any derision of the Times , though that is a whole topic of discussion in and of itself.

[CSpec]

Oh look, Chase emailed me this morning telling me I can donate my credit card points to the Red Cross! Of course it's only a total coincidence that the Red Cross skims a nice profit off the top. And Japan doesn't want their help.