DETROIT and DEARBORN, Mich. -

In response to the nation’s deadliest single tornado since the National Weather Service started keeping records in 1950, both General Motors and Ford have pledged money and resources toward relief efforts in Joplin, Mo.

The General Motors Foundation gave a $100,000 grant to the American Red Cross to aid recovery efforts for victims of the tornado that ravaged the town in southwestern Mo. this past Sunday.

“Thanks to the generosity of the General Motors Foundation, the Red Cross has been able to mobilize support to help families recovering from the recent tornado in Joplin, Missouri,” noted Neal Litvack, chief development officer at the American Red Cross.

“These contributions from the General Motors Foundation, along with the strong support of the American public, are critical because they enable the Red Cross to rush immediate relief to disaster victims,” Litvack continued.

The GM Foundation also plans to provide funds to the Annual Disaster Relief Giving Program, which enables the Red Cross to provide immediate disaster relief anywhere in the country.

Red Cross officials said its program quickly dispatched a Disaster Action Team in Joplin to assess the crises, open a shelter and partner with other organizations to provide emergency care for hundreds of evacuees.

“GM has employees who work in Missouri, and we want to be there to help our neighbors who are hurting,” stated Bob Ferguson, GM Foundation chairman and GM vice president of global public policy.

“With the Red Cross, the foundation can help with the recovery effort and restore some hope that things will get better,” Ferguson added.

Also, as part of the automaker’s pledge, Chevrolet will provide two Chevrolet Express full-size vans — built at GM’s Wentzville, Mo., facility — to help United Way of Southwest Missouri and Southeast Kansas volunteers with evacuation and recovery work.

Employees at Wentzville and GM’s Fairfax, Kan., plant, which builds the Chevrolet Malibu and Buick Lacrosse sedans, also collected relief donations at the plants’ entrances.

“For more than 28 years, we’ve built full-size Chevrolet and GMC vans in Missouri and enjoyed a collaborative and supportive relationship with the state and local community,” insisted Alan Batey, vice president of Chevrolet sales and service.

“It’s important that we return the support and care to our extended GM family in Joplin and surrounding communities following the devastation of the deadly storm,” Batey stressed.

Furthermore, GM’s OnStar opened its Crisis Assist Services for subscribers in the Joplin area, which provides free hands-free calling minutes and access to advisors who can provide directions. OnStar intends to continue the free service as search and rescue efforts continue.

The total Chevrolet, GM Foundation and OnStar contribution is estimated at more than $170,000. OnStar’s Directions and Connections service is also being provided for one year, along with 1,000 hands-free calling minutes for each of the donated vans.

So far this year, GM and the GM Foundation said they have provided more than $1.7 million to disaster relief efforts in Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and the Southern U.S. states hit by extreme weather. The contributions have included the donation of 13 Chevrolet and GMC trucks for use in rescue and reconstruction efforts in the United States.

Additionally, the company pointed out GM employees throughout the country have donated hundreds of volunteer hours collecting and distributing emergency supplies and providing manpower where needed.

GM employees interested in providing support to tornado victims are encouraged to use the donation link through the company’s internal website.
Other individuals can help by visiting www.redcross.org or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or (800) 733-2767 to make a donation.

Ford Highlights Commitment to Missouri Tornado Victims

The Ford Motor Co. Fund is donating another $50,000 to assist with hunger relief efforts in communities hit by tornadoes, bringing the total donations to Feeding America this month to $100,000.

Additionally, employees at the Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant, including employees with UAW Local 249 and local Ford offices, are assisting with relief efforts in Joplin, Mo. The OEM believes a collection by employees will also raise several thousand dollars in further contributions.

“Our hearts go out to our neighbors without shelter and food in the wake of these devastating storms,” acknowledged Jim Vella, president of the Ford Motor Co. Fund.

“Our partnership with Feeding America allows us to provide help where it is needed most,” Vella insisted.

Feeding America aids disaster relief and recovery by distributing food and grocery products through a network of more than 200 food banks that serve 61,000 local charitable agencies.

“The donations from Ford this season will greatly benefit those working to rebuild communities affected by the damaging storms,” noted Vicki Escarra, chief executive officer of Feeding America.

“For years, our partnership with Ford has helped to better communities across the nation,” Escarra added.

Ford pointed out it has a decade-long partnership with Feeding America and Newman’s Own to provide Ford refrigerated trucks loaded with Newman’s Own food products to communities in need.

Officials said the fleet of 98 refrigerated Ford trucks and vans has travelled 5.7 million miles, delivering 130 million meals.