8.11.2001
Opel Polska and GMAC built "Homes of Hope"

Employees from the Opel plant in Gliwice and the Opel Bank in Warsaw worked on the construction site of a housing project. In a joint activity with the international charity organization "Habitat for Humanity", they donated over 3,800 working hours and a check for US$ 100,000 to this international charity.

This summer, GM and GMAC jointly sponsored Habitat for Humanity, a charity organization helping less fortunate people to obtain a home of their own. Habitat for Humanity seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. The organization invites people from all walks of life to work together with families in need to build houses.

In June, GMAC and GM, through their local offices Opel Bank and Opel Poland, got involved. James E. Farmer, GMAC Vice President Merchandising, Advertising and Communications, Miroslaw Bieszki, Opel Bank Managing Director and John Burton, Opel Polska Plant Director, handed over a check for US$ 100,000 to Habitat for Humanity at a kick-off ceremony in the southern Polish town of Gliwice. This was GM and GMAC's first joint activity with Habitat for Humanity outside of North America.

The help from GMAC and GM wasn't just monetary. Every week since mid-June, six volunteers from the Opel Polska plant in Gliwice have worked on the building site fixing, mixing, lifting and carrying. Altogether, around 100 Opel Polska employees devoted over 3,800 working hours to help people in need. Volunteers from Opel Bank replaced them during the summer shutdown.

"It has been a new experience for us to be so positively involved in such a large event which brought together an international charity, a global company, and the local community. Our employees volunteered, giving their time to work with Habitat, and they have really helped families in the local area. This was seen as an example for other companies to follow, to work closely with the local community to support the region," says John Burton, Opel Polska Plant Director.

This philosophy of mutual help is in line with General Motors' teamwork spirit. Professional construction workers were positively surprised by the skills of the plant employees who were building the homes, as well as by their energy and the willingness to lend a hand where it is needed.

"The Habitat project here in Gliwice is not my first experience with this organization. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to work in India for one month as an volunteer building houses," said Daniel Sarna from General Assembly. "I wanted to help and get a new experience".

It is estimated that the house currently being built will be finished by Christmas. Labor to build comes mostly from the families who are going to inhabit the house, but also from sponsor volunteers like Opel Poland employees and the Opel Bank.