New vans bring smiles at United Way

UNITED WAY IN THE NEWS

July 21, 2006

GM Foundation hands over keys to 3 metro groups

By Lindsay Machak
Detroit Free Press Special Writer

When Michael Brennan, chief executive officer of the United Way of Southeastern Michigan, handed over the keys for three new Saturn Relay vans Thursday morning in Warren, everyone near him was smiling.

The vans were among seven donated by the General Motors Foundation to the United Way in three metro Detroit communities and elsewhere.

"We have a long-standing relationship with United Way," said Erin Kreis, a representative of GM. "They bring a lot of assistance to the communities where many of our employees live and work."

The vans were presented to Black Family Development in Detroit, which provides support and preservation services for African-American families; Oakland Family Services in Pontiac, which provides treatment, education and prevention services, and Turning Point in Mt. Clemens, which works with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

GM also donated vans to groups in Lansing; Atlanta; Janesville, Wis., and Buffalo, N.Y.

"We have never had anything like that before," said Adrienne Gasperoni, youth and family director at Turning Point. "It's wonderful. We have a summer camp going on for kids that live in shelters and we will use the van for outings so they can try to do regular summer activities."

Each van is equipped with Sit-N-Lift technology, which enables caregivers to transport people with physical disabilities.

The passenger seat of the van slides out so a person can easily sit on it. After a person is on the seat, it moves back into the van and automatically turns so the person is facing the front.

"This lift van is an opportunity to expand our services," said Sandy Morrison, vice president of Development for Oakland Family Services. "Our CEO got the first call about the donation. He was very grateful because it provides transportation."

The three organizations were chosen carefully, Brennan said.

"We partnered with GM and reviewed the organizations that they carry high interest in," Brennan said. "Transportation is important. We make sure we have the right match to the right organization."

"These donations are part of the annual contribution to the United Way of Southeastern Michigan," Kreis said.

GM also participates in other events during the year to support United Way.

"Another event is the Employee Giving Campaign," Kreis said. "It happens in the fall, when employees are asked to give money to United Way or they can choose any of their affiliates."