In the Wake of Destruction…

June 9, 2011 11:03 am CT

If a catastrophe were to strike your community, you’d be faced with two choices; turn inward and focus on your own misfortunes, or set them aside and rally for those less fortunate around you. Which would you choose?

Just over two weeks ago, a devastating tornado hit the city of Joplin, Mo., leaving nothing but tragedy in its wake. It’s always difficult to try to find the silver lining in such an unfortunate situation, but our South Central General Motors employees stepped up, and they stepped up strong. The morning after an F-5 tornado ripped through Joplin, Chevrolet employees Gabriel Ismaio and Ken Sadowski rushed from Springfield to Crossroads Chevrolet, a dealership in Joplin, to make sure the dealership employees and families were okay. What they saw compelled them to help personally and to get area dealers Involved as well.

The local support efforts began almost immediately. Area Chevrolet dealers Reliable, Mayse, Crossroads and Hulett donated a combined $80,000. In addition to financial donations, another local dealer bought 2,500 burgers, buns and all the condiments, and spent the day grilling burgers at a church in the west side of Joplin. They also donated needed supplies to one of the collection centers. Hanks Chevrolet committed a portion of its proceeds of every car sold to the Joplin Red Cross through the month of June.

The outpouring of help continued from both Wentzville and Fairfax Assembly plants where UAW Locals 31 and 2250 raised an additional $10,000 through gate donation drives.

More help arrived from OnStar when they opened our Crisis Assist Services for subscribers in the Joplin area, providing free hands-free calling minutes and access to advisors who can provide directions.

Capping off the efforts, the GM Foundation donated $100,000 to the Red Cross, and gave two full size Chevrolet vans to the United Way to help with recovery efforts.

Collectively, the General Motors Family contributed more than $250,000 to the Joplin relief efforts.

I look through pictures. I hear the stories. I can’t begin to fathom the challenges and the losses that the folks in Joplin are currently experiencing. I applaud their tenacity and their courage, and I’m thankful the GM Family was able to rally and make the choice to put others’ misfortune first and foremost.