CAMI lends a large hand to United Way
Posted By HUGO RODRIGUES, SENTINEL-REVIEW
Updated 2 months ago
"Don't push them yet -- you're looking for the bottom-left button. Point and shoot and the numbers will all come up," CAMI employee and United Way campaign cochair Bob Fuller said to the group of dignitaries.
One-by-one, sort of, each Chevrolet Equinox or GMC Terrain's tailgate lifted to reveal this year's donation from CAMI Automotive Inc. and CAW Local 88 to the United Ways of London- Middlesex and Oxford. The $465,154.25 amount is a full 10% higher than the goal set by workplace campaign officials in July.
"Holy cow! This is beyond our wildest expectations," United Way of Oxford executive director Kelly Gilson said, looking at the 11 raised tailgates. "We knew they were tracking well and were pleased with their campaign. This is really great and we give our sincere thanks."
The total amount is divided between the two United Ways. Gilson explained employees direct their donations to a specifi c agency, and then the corporate contribution is split evenly between Oxford and London- Middlesex. Each agency's share had yet to be calculated Thursday afternoon, but Gilson said Oxford usually gets 60% to 65% of the total amount.
Woodstock Police Service Chief Rod Freeman, this year's United Way of Oxford campaign chair, noted the campaign was at 38% of its $880,000 target before the CAMI / CAW Local 88 announcement. With their donation, CAMI / CAW Local 88 will once again fulfill a traditional role as the Oxford campaign's largest donor.
"It continues to amaze me how during hard times, our employees continue to give at remarkable levels," CAMI president Carolyne Watts said. "This certainly is a strong commitment to the community-- probably because we're one of the largest employers in the community and have that sense of responsibility by our employees to help those less fortunate."
In its 20-year history, CAMI and CAW Local 88 have contributed over $5 million to United Ways through annual workplace campaigns, despite the roller coaster that has been the plant's history. CAMI campaign cochair Bev Bullas noted the past 12 months has been a particular contrast in highs and lows within the plant's workforce.
"In January, we were facing layoffs and downtime and GM was in financial trouble," Bullas said. "But in the summer we launched our new vehicles and they've been a success we never could have dreamed of."
The plant recently regained its third shift and a recent announcement on the retooling of the plant to increase production could see all remaining layoffs recalled and the potential hiring next year of new employees.
Bullas explained the 2009 target was set in July at $1 over the 2008 campaign amount of $420,065, due to some of the uncertainty in the plant at the time. She said organizers had a good vibe as to what was coming, but couldn't be sure.
"We were fortunate enough to be able to canvass folks coming back -- those who'd been on layoff and had been there and seen it," Bullas explained. "They appreciate and know the value of the United Way member agencies."
She said some of those employees were the most eager and ready to donate to the campaign despite having just returned to full-time work after a period of time working to make ends meet on layoff.
This year's amount was just over $45,000 higher than 2008. Final apportionment should be calculated next week, but the donation could bring Oxford's campaign to within reach of 70% of its $880,000 target.
