Community Pride At GM Parma

Parma team members and community support representatives following the Community Appreciation Day event Wednesday, November 16th.

The General Motors Foundation and GM’s Parma Metal Center have announced $25,000 in grants to Greater Cleveland nonprofit organizations through its Community Grants program. “Through the GM Foundation, these important community organizations are able to drive programs that continue to improve the quality of life in our communities,” said Lamar Rucker, Parma’s plant manager. “We are proud to be a part of a company and community that both work hard to support education, enhance community revitalization and help those in need.”

Funded by the GM Foundation, the GM Community Grants will support the following Northeast Ohio organizations and community programs: 

 United Way of Greater Cleveland ($10,000) - Aspires to create and support healthy communities where all kids succeed in school and families and individuals are financially stable. To do this, they engage community members to volunteer their time, talent and voices to support its work. More than 150 Community Impact volunteers oversee the annual investments in programs designed to address some of our community’s most difficult problems, and Campaign Cabinet volunteers work to mobilize some 1,400 workplace campaigns. More than 2,000 volunteers participate in hands-on projects through Days of Caring programs. The result is 450,000 Greater Cleveland residents benefit from United Way every year. 

• American Cancer Society, Northeast Ohio Region ($5,000) – The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. The Northeast Ohio Region partners with Parma in major initiatives like Making Strides Against Breast Cancer where Parma is a leading supporter in the Cleveland area. 
• Big Creek Connects ($5,000) – Is committed to conserve, enhance, and bring recognition to the natural and historic resources of the Big Creek Watershed and develop a recreational trail network that connects these resources to each other and the community. 
• Greater Cleveland Food bank ($5,000) - Each year, 52 million meals are missed in the Food Bank’s service area. Its mission is to ensure that everyone in Greater Cleveland communities has the nutritious food they need every day through both food distribution and food stamp outreach efforts.  

 “Through the Community Grants Program, GM Parma is fostering an environment that supports education and growth of the region,” said Lori Wingerter, vice president, GM Foundation. Partnerships with these organizations underscore our commitment to the residents of Parma and all of Greater Cleveland.” 

This year, the GM Community Grants program will provide over $2 million in funding to hundreds of organizations in 47 communities where GM employees live and work.