GM Donates Three Sit-N-Lift Equipped Vans To United Way Community Services in Detroit, Aug. 26

Automotive Innovation Improves Lives

General Motors will donate three Sit-N-Lift equipped Chevrolet Venture vans to United Way Community Services to benefit people with limited mobility at three agencies serving Detroit's tri-county area. Roderick D. Gillum, vice president of Corporate Responsibility and Diversity, General Motors Corporation, will turn over the keys to the new vans to Michael J. Brennan, president and CEO, United Way Community Services. The vans will be presented to Delois Whitaker Caldwell, president & CEO, Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit; Stan Gramke, president & CEO, New Horizons Rehabilitation Services, Inc.; and Blanca Almanza, interim executive, LA SED (Latin Americans for Social and Economic Development.)

WHAT: General Motors donates three Sit-N-Lift equipped Chevrolet Venture vans to United Way Community Services

  WHEN:  Thursday, Aug. 26  2:30 - 3 p.m. 
  WHERE:  Jefferson Chevrolet
          2130 E. Jefferson (east of Rivard, west of Chene)
          Detroit

WHY: The vans will provide mobility to senior adults and people with disabilities in the metro Detroit area, providing transportation to enhance education, job training skills and community-based activities that improve self-sufficiency.

"General Motors is honored to donate these vehicles to United Way Community Services," said Gillum. "We value our long standing partnership with United Way, which demonstrates the important collaboration of human services and corporations working together for a healthy, vibrant community. The donation of these vehicles and the state-of-the-art engineering of the Sit-N-Lift are evidence of our dedication to helping people with special needs."

Brennan said, "Thanks to the generosity of General Motors, more people will have greater access to important community services. These vans, with their innovative technology, help United Way deliver its mission of improving lives. We applaud GM for its ongoing efforts that lead to positive, long-term change in community conditions."

United Way Community Services improves lives throughout Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. United Way impacts local people each year by increasing economic self-sufficiency, protecting children and youth at risk, strengthening families, empowering neighborhoods and communities, and promoting health and wellness. Information on United Way's programs and services is available at http://www.uwcs.org/ .

GM is the only automotive manufacturer in the U.S. to offer a fully motorized, rotating lift-and-lower passenger seat to help people stay on the move. Sit-N-Lift provides convenient access to the right-hand second-row seating area. Operated by a handheld remote control, the power bucket seat rotates, then extends out of the vehicle and lowers for easy entry and exit.

The dealer-installed Sit-N-Lift seat is available on 2001 through 2005 extended wheelbase models of Chevy Venture, Pontiac Montana and Oldsmobile Silhouette, as well as the full line of new Crossover Sport Vans, the Buick Terraza, Saturn Relay, Chevrolet Uplander and Pontiac Montana SV6 available this fall.

Introduced in October 2003, Sit-N-Lift now is available through Chevrolet, Pontiac and Oldsmobile dealerships. For more information on Sit-N-Lift and GM Mobility, call 800-323-9935, TTY Users 800-833-9935 or visit http://gmmobility.com/ .