GM aids in Hurricane Katrina Relief

[Dragon]

FOR RELEASE: 2005-09-01

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UPDATED: General Motors, GM Foundation & GMAC Aid Hurricane Victims in Southern U.S.

Vehicles, Cash and Matching Funds to American Red Cross


DETROIT – General Motors today announced that the GM Foundation and GMAC have made a combined immediate cash donation of $400,000 to the American Red Cross Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund in support of relief work in parts of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The GM Foundation has pledged up to an additional $250,000 in matching funds for contributions made to the Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund by GM and GMAC employees through the company’s Global Aid Disaster Relief website (www.gmability.com).

In addition to financial support, the GM family will provide additional relief support and aid to storm victims:

GM is making available more than 150 vehicles -- including HUMMERS, full-size SUVs, trucks and vans -- for use by the American Red Cross in relief efforts throughout the affected areas. These vehicles, along with three HUMMER H2s donated to the Red Cross last year and the 10 other vehicles already in use following last month’s strike of Hurricane Dennis in Pensacola, are offered to the Red Cross for use in transporting volunteers, food, water and medical supplies.
The GM Foundation has allocated $50,000 of its immediate cash donation to the Red Cross chapter in Shreveport, Louisiana, to assist in their efforts to provide shelter to evacuees from surrounding areas.

GM’s production facility in Shreveport, working with the local Red Cross chapter, is collecting urgently needed bedding for the many evacuees entering the area. To date, 1000 cots, 1000 air mattresses, 500 pillows, and 500 blankets have been collected for distribution to local Red Cross shelters.

GMAC will work closely on a case-by-case basis with all its impacted customers in auto finance, insurance and mortgage units. Customers should contact customer service: GMAC Insurance: Personal Lines (Vehicle Insurance) 800-468-3466 MIC (GM Protection Plan) 800-631-5590; GMAC Mortgage 800-766-4622; GMAC Auto Financing 800-200-4622) or their branch offices where possible.

OnStar has opened up its full range of services for its customers based in or traveling in Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky . All OnStar customers in these states are getting immediate assistance with routing requests, hotel reservations, gas station directions, contacting relatives and emergency communication with public safety providers.

“The GM family shares in the nation’s grief as reports of fatalities, injuries and property destruction continue to mount in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. GM, the GM Foundation and GMAC are working closely with the American Red Cross to help bring relief to the victims of this devastating storm,” said Rod Gillum, GM Vice President Corporate Responsibility and Diversity, and Chairman of the GM Foundation. “In light of this national emergency, we encourage GM and GMAC employees everywhere to continue their proven tradition of supporting disaster relief efforts by contributing online to the Red Cross Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund.”

The GM Foundation was established in 1976 to support the philanthropic interests and business priorities of General Motors Corporation. In 2004, worldwide contributions by GM and the GM Foundation totaled $68 million.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader since 1931. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 317,000 people around the world. It has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in 200 countries. In 2004, GM sold nearly 9 million cars and trucks globally, up 4 percent and the second-highest total in the company’s history. GM’s global headquarters are at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit . More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

[MGZ06]

Finally a corporation stands up to help!