"Homes of Hope" - General Motors And Habitat For Humanity Co-Operate On A Joint Project In Poland

FOR RELEASE: June 19, 2001

"Homes of Hope" - General Motors And Habitat For Humanity Co-Operate On A Joint Project In Poland

Warsaw - General Motors, through its manufacturing and financial services units in Poland, today announced a co-operation with the Polish branch of Habitat for Humanity, an international charity present in over 60 countries. GMAC (GM's financial services unit) Vice President, Merchandising, Advertising and Communications, James E. Farmer, presented a check for US$ 100,000 to the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity in the city of Gliwice in Southern Poland. In addition, a large group of volunteers from GM's Opel Polska car plant located in Gliwice and from GMAC's Opel Bank in Warsaw will work on the construction site for the extension of a housing project for families in need.

The Gliwice project, called "Homes of Hope," was inaugurated in 1994. It was the first branch of Habitat for Humanity to be established in Poland. The "Homes of Hope" are not provided to the families free of charge, but sold on a non-profit basis. Under the scheme, future owners are required to work on the construction of their own and their neighbors' houses.

"We are particularly proud to take part in this project, especially given the fact that this is GM and GMAC's first joint activity with Habitat for Humanity outside of North America. We look forward to continued work with Habitat, drawing on GM and GMAC resources throughout the world," said James E. Farmer.

"We are indeed pleased with our employees' response to this project. They have volunteered their time and hard work to help the needy, thus confirming that GM and Opel are an integral part of the local community. In total we will contribute over 2,200 working hours," said John Burton, Director of the Opel Polska plant in Gliwice.

Similar to the USA and Western Europe, donating time, tools and the expertise of experienced workers free of charge is becoming increasingly popular among companies in Poland