DaimlerChrysler Wins Two United Way of America Summit Awards
DETROIT, May 18 -- DaimlerChrysler Corporation was awarded two distinguished United Way of America Summit Awards at the nonprofit's Community Leaders Conference, May 18, 2006, in Denver, Colo. The Summit Award is part of United Way of America's (UWA) prestigious Spirit of America(R) Award program, which recognizes a company's outstanding commitment to improving lives in local communities.
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DaimlerChrysler was honored with a Summit Award in two categories: Corporate Community Investment, which recognizes a company for its generous corporate contribution of dollars and resources; and Employee Community Investment, which recognizes a company that provides opportunities for its employees to voluntarily contribute to local communities company-wide.
"DaimlerChrysler has done an outstanding job engaging its employees in both the mission of United Way and the need to address issues facing communities," said UWA President and CEO Brian A. Gallagher. "Together, DaimlerChrysler and United Way can focus resources on the most pressing problems in local communities to change people's lives for the better."
This is the 19th year that United Way of America has honored companies with this award. The awards are open to companies that are part of UWA's National Corporate Leadership Program -- those companies that have at least 10,000 employees at 25 or more locations, run a company-wide campaign involving all of their locations and subsidiaries, and raise more than $1 million in its corporate and employee giving.
"DaimlerChrysler employees have a tradition of helping communities in need, boosting United Way donations last year by 13 percent to more than $12.8 million," said Tom LaSorda, Chrysler Group president and chief executive officer. "Our thanks go out to our partners at the UAW for their contributions, and to the United Way of America for recognizing the entire DaimlerChrysler family for their efforts to help fulfill basic needs such as education, health care and food for so many."
DaimlerChrysler, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., has been a long- time supporter of United Way nationally and locally. In southeastern Michigan, DaimlerChrysler has contributed more than $243,672,700 to United Way for Southeastern Michigan's Torch Drive campaign since 1949, when the organization first initiated giving through payroll deduction. Contributions have helped support hundreds of programs and services throughout metro Detroit's Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.
Tom LaSorda chaired DaimlerChrysler's 2005 United Way company campaign at its headquarters, which kicked off with a "Champion the Cause" theme, complete with Olympic-type activities that aligned with United Way's impact areas.
Employees carried out the Olympic spirit with an executive dunk tank and smashed watermelons labeled with community issues, such as homelessness, illiteracy, cancer and other issues that United Way and its partner agencies work to improve everyday. There were also 5,000 children's books collected and a bake sale that resulted in $13,000 raised in a two-hour period, which was matched dollar-for-dollar by the DaimlerChrysler Foundation.
"As a result of DaimlerChrysler's generosity and commitment to community, millions of people have received necessary services to improve their lives," said Michael J. Brennan, president & CEO, United Way for Southeastern Michigan. "The level of corporate involvement demonstrated by DaimlerChrysler's executive leadership, and the level of engagement by DaimlerChrysler employees to support the mission of United Way, is unprecedented. We are very grateful for their outstanding partnership and congratulate them on this distinguished honor."
United Way of America also gave Summit Awards to Duke Energy, General Mills, Kellogg Company, Kimberly-Clark, Microsoft Corporation and Xcel Energy. United Way of America's Spirit of America(R) Award went to Principal Financial.
United Way of America is the national organization dedicated to leading the United Way movement in making a measurable impact in every community across America by focusing on the root causes of the most serious problems. The United Way movement includes over 1,300 community-based United Way organizations. Each is independent, separately incorporated, and governed by local volunteers. For more information about United Way of America, please visit: http://www.unitedway.org/ .
United Way for Southeastern Michigan mobilizes the caring power of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties to improve lives in measurable and lasting ways throughout the region. The organization is led by a diverse group of volunteers from business, labor, government, human services, education and the community. United Way provides opportunities to invest in the metropolitan Detroit community through its annual Torch Drive and is a leader in convening partners to impact local residents each year by increasing economic self- sufficiency, protecting children and youth at risk, strengthening families, empowering neighborhoods and communities, and promoting health and wellness. Additional information is available at http://www.uwsem.org/ .
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