Durham Children’s Aid Foundation is the recipient of funds from the GM Canada Dealer Contest.
On December 14, General Motors of Canada and its dealer network delivered more than $160,000 in donations to the Durham Children’s Aid Foundation (DCAF).
The funds were presented in a special ceremony at the charity headquarters in Oshawa where a fleet of Oshawa-assembled Chevrolet Silverado pickups travelled from the assembly plant to the charity venue to drop off toys and gifts as part of Sharon’s Kids—which has been providing toy and gift donations to families and children in need for more than 50 years.
Sharon’s Kids was originally started by a GM Oshawa employee, Sharon Clark in 1968 who grew the program into what it is today. Sharon sadly passed away in 2020 but her legacy lives on.
Multiple donations
The $160,000 donated to DCAF was made up of monetary donations from the GM Canada dealer contest, a $10,000 donation from Oshawa Assembly through the Plant City Grant Program and $36,000 in gifts from GM Canada employees.
These presents will be distributed to hundreds of families through the DCAF Holiday Hope Program.
John Henry, Durham Regional Chair, and Dan Carter, Mayor of Oshawa, joined the convoy pickups delivering the presents from GM employees to DCAF.
Additionally, GM Canada held a dealer contest for the opportunity to purchase the very first Oshawa-assembled Silverado off the reopened production line and in the process, raised $125,000 for DCAF through donations from 163 GM dealers.
The winning dealer was Paillé Chevrolet Buick GMC in Berthierville, Quebec, which will take delivery of VIN 001 in January 2022 —a white 2022 Silverado HD High Country with exclusive “VIN 001” graphics.
On winning the first new, Oshawa-built Silverado, Jean-Claude Paillé, President of Paillé Chevrolet Buick GMC, said, “We were happy to donate to a cause as worthy as Sharon’s Kids for the chance to bring VIN 001 to Paillé. We look forward to displaying that beautiful truck at our store, and we’re looking forward to seeing many more Oshawa-built pickups built on the road.”
Honouring a legacy
GM Canada President, Scott Bell added, “Thank you to everyone who came together in the spirit of giving and congratulations to Paillé Chevrolet Buick GMC, who now owns a piece of Canadian history.GM Canada and our community have supported Durham Children’s Aid for over fifty years, and I am so proud that we are honouring Sharon’s legacy to make the holidays a little brighter for children that need it most in the Durham Region.”
“The Durham Children’s Aid Foundation is so thankful for the ongoing support we receive from GM Canada and their network of dealers across Canada,” said Dennis Ullman, CEO, Durham Children’s Aid Foundation.
“The response to the Dealer contest was amazing. With their support, we will help over 1,000 people living in vulnerable situations celebrate the holiday season just like their friends and neighbours. Together we are working to ensure that No Child Shall Be Left Behind.”
Dan Carter, Mayor of Oshawa, stated: “Many thanks to General Motors Canada, its associated dealers, the men and women of Uniform and the great City of Oshawa for their heartfelt demonstration of kindness and generosity. I am so happy to see that the legacy of Sharon Clark continues to make a meaningful impact on our community.”
