Detroit, MI

FOR RELEASE: March 8, 2002

GM Gives Detroit Public School Students The "Royale" Treatment; The GM Foundation Sponsors Circus Royale

Detroit, MI-Twinkling eyes and thunderous laughter filled the State Fair Coliseum today as thousands of school children enjoyed The 78th Annual Circus at the Fairgrounds. The Detroit Public School students were treated to the day by the General Motors Foundation.

"There is nothing more special than bringing a smile to a child's face. GM is pleased to have this opportunity to bring smiles to the faces of thousands of Detroit area school children," said Lorna G. Utley, president of the GM Foundation.

Twenty-two elementary schools were selected to attend the special performance of Circus Royale. The students were selected based on a number of criteria, including grades and behavior.

In addition to daredevil acts, acrobats, clowns and elephants, the students got to check out some of GM's cool new cars. Several Chevrolet Cavaliers were on display, including an orange Spyder Convertible. One roomy bright red Cavalier carried almost a dozen energetic clowns into the ring!

"We not only want the students to have a great time today, we want them to know that GM is an automotive company that really cares about the communities in which we operate," added Utley.

The GM Foundation, established in 1976 and funded entirely by GM, provides the focal point for administering GM's philanthropic programs. In 2001, the combined worldwide contributions of GM and the GM Foundation were more than $82 million.