GM Canada and its Dealers Donate More than $160,000 to Durham Children’s Aid Foundation
2021-12-14
OSHAWA, Ont. (December 14, 2021) – Today, a convoy of Oshawa-built Chevrolet Silverado pickups, filled with toys and gifts, made their way to the Durham Children’s Aid Foundation (DCAF) where GM Canada also presented a donation from its dealers across Canada. This continues the legacy of Sharon Clark, who started Sharon’s Kids at Oshawa Assembly – a program that has provided holiday gifts to children in need for more than 50 years.
GM Canada held a dealer contest for the opportunity to purchase Oshawa’s first pickup off the line, raising $115,000 for DCAF through donations from 163 GM dealers. The winning dealer is Paillé Chevrolet Buick GMC in Berthierville, Quebec, who will take delivery of VIN 001 in January – a white 2022 Silverado HD High Country with exclusive “VIN 001” graphics.
“Thank you to everyone who came together in the spirit of giving and congratulations to Paillé Chevrolet Buick GMC, who now owns a piece of Canadian history,” said Scott Bell, GM Canada president and managing director. “GM Canada and our community have supported Durham Children’s Aid for over fifty years, and I am so proud that we are honouring Sharon’s legacy to make the holidays a little brighter for children that need it most in the Durham Region.”
The $160,000 donated to DCAF is made up of monetary donations from the GM Canada dealer contest, a $10,000 donation from Oshawa Assembly through the Plant City Grant Program and more than $36,000 in gifts from GM Canada employees. These presents will be distributed to hundreds of families through the DCAF Holiday Hope Program. John Henry, Durham Regional Chair, and Dan Carter, Mayor of Oshawa, joined the convoy of pickups delivering the presents from GM employees to DCAF.
From Jean-Claude Paillé, president of Paillé Chevrolet Buick GMC in Berthierville:
“We were happy to donate to a cause as worthy as Sharon’s Kids for the chance to bring VIN 001 to Paillé. We look forward to displaying that beautiful truck at our store, and we’re looking forward to seeing many more Oshawa-built pickups built on the road.”
From Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter:
“Many thanks to General Motors Canada, its associated dealers, the men and women of Unifor and the great City of Oshawa for their heartfelt demonstration of kindness and generosity. I am so happy to see that the legacy of Sharon Clark continues to make a meaningful impact on our community.”
From Dennis Ullman, CEO Durham Children’s Aid Foundation:
“The Durham Children’s Aid Foundation is so thankful for the ongoing support we receive from GM Canada and their network of dealers across Canada. The response to the Dealer contest was absolutely amazing. With their support, we will help over 1,000 people living in vulnerable situations celebrate the holiday season just like their friends and neighbours. Together we are working to ensure that No Child Shall Be Left Behind.”
About Sharon Clark
In 1968, GM Canada employee Sharon Clark started Sharon’s Kids at the GM Oshawa Assembly plant. Sharon decided to skip the office gift exchange and instead, adopt a family in need. With the help of GM Canada employees, Sharon grew her program and continued to support those in need in Durham region for over 50 years. In April 2020, Sharon passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.
Including today’s donation, GM Canada employees and dealers have donated more than $650,000 to DCAF since 2018 in honour of Sharon’s Kids. To learn more or to support the Durham Children’s Aid Foundation, please click here.
About General Motors Canada
General Motors of Canada is headquartered in Oshawa, Ontario and is part of a global company that is committed to delivering safer, better and more sustainable ways for people to get around. In Canada, General Motors markets Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles through our strong Canadian network of dealers, as well as OnStar services. More information can be found at www.gm.ca or by following @GMCanada on Twitter and Instagram.
About Durham Children’s Aid Foundation
The Durham Children’s Aid Foundation raises funds to support programs and services for children and youth living in vulnerable family situations. Programs include our annual Holiday Hope Program, Post-Secondary Bursaries, Mentoring for Success, Positive Transitions for Youth, Mental Health Initiatives and Camps for Kids. DCAF assists over 4000 children, youth and families in our community.