CAMI Employees Donate Over $500,000 to United Way

Wednesday, 14 February 2018 13:52

The United Way was presented with a giant cheque this morning from GM Cami Employees and Unifor Local 88.

INGERSOLL - Employees from the GM Canada CAMI Assembly Plant and Unifor Local 88 have raised over $531,000 for the United Way Oxford and United Way Elgin Middlesex.

The United Way was presented with a giant cheque this morning. Co-Chair of the CAMI United Way Campaign Mark Taylor says they did fall a little short of their goal this year.

"We had a number of things that impacted our campaign, the strike was one, we had a number of people who were laid off, oddly enough as it's a positive for some people to be able to retire, it's a bit of a negative for the campaign because we have lost those folks in their ability to give. Having said that, this year for the first time we have put together an opportunity for retiree's to give. Moving forward when folks retire, they will have a pledge form in the retirement package and they can continue to give, next year our retiree's will be able to purchase tickets for our in house fundraiser, our raffle."

The United Way was thrilled with the donation and all of that money will be used to help fund local programs and not for profit organizations. Executive Director for United Way Oxford Kelly Gilson says they are thrilled with this donation.

"This funding is crucial for our campaign and we have always said that giving through payroll donations is the easiest way to make a difference because it really is and we look at the folks at the GM CAMI Assembly Plant and Unifor Local 88, they lead by example. The percent of participation, the dollars they raise is astronomical, because they really do believe that they are in a position to help others and it is a model that can be replicated in any business at any size."

Gilson says they are so incredibly grateful for this donation knowing that it has been a difficult year with the strike and the layoffs.