Chrysler Group Volunteer Program Revs Up to Drive Social Change

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Jun 03, 2014, 02:00 ET

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., June 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Chrysler Group partners with Stop Hunger Now for employee volunteer effort to create 70,000 meal packages to support school feeding programs and crisis relief in Brazil
Newly named 'Motor Citizens' volunteer program gives 18,000 Chrysler Group salaried employees time off to 'Be an Engine for Change' in their communities
Chrysler Group dealers enhance community involvement efforts with addition of online toolkit

Today, in the heart of Chrysler Group LLC's Auburn Hills campus, employees packaged 70,000 meals for Stop Hunger Now, an international hunger relief agency. Using an assembly line-style process, 260 employees combined more than 7,000 pounds of rice, 2,900 pounds of soy, and 350 pounds of vegetables with a seasoning mix, which includes 21 essential vitamins and minerals, into small meal packages. The meal packages will be shipped to Brazil to support school feeding programs and crisis relief.

The timing of this volunteer event coincides with the launch of "Motor Citizens," the new name for the company's well-established volunteer program that gives its more than 18,000 salaried employees – in the United States, Canada and Mexico – 18 hours paid time off each year to volunteer for nonprofit organizations of their choosing, as well as company-sponsored initiatives.

"As a company, we are committed to making service to others part of our daily mission," explains Jody Trapasso, Senior Vice President – External Affairs, Chrysler Group LLC. "Over the years, we've invested more than half a billion dollars in charitable organizations to help build strong communities, while our volunteer activities have impacted millions of lives. Wherever possible, we will put volunteer hours behind our grants to better drive social change. Today's event to help alleviate hunger demonstrates the enthusiasm and commitment that Chrysler employees bring to serving our communities."

Chrysler Group employees located in Canada and Mexico also organized hunger relief volunteer events today to benefit local organizations.

In Canada, employees wanted to raise awareness for the need to support local food banks on a year-round basis, not just during the holidays. Volunteers spent the day helping with the food program at the Downtown Mission of Windsor. They brought with them a Dodge Grand Caravan full of employee-donated food items, as well as a $7,500 donation, which will be shared amongst the Downtown Mission of Windsor, The Salvation Army and the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul for their food bank programs.

Meanwhile in Mexico City, 60 volunteers from Chrysler de Mexico helped package and deliver more than seven tons of food (approximately 10,500 meals) in conjunction with the Solo por Ayudar Foundation. The food will be distributed to a community located near the company's Toluca Complex.

Chrysler Group's Motor Citizens volunteer program complements the decades-long legacy of The Chrysler Foundation, which serves as the primary conduit for Chrysler Group to give back to the community. In its more than 60 years of its existence, The Chrysler Foundation has granted more than half a billion dollars to worthwhile organizations and causes.

To further support Chrysler Group's commitment to volunteerism, The Chrysler Foundation has established a Motor Citizens grant program to supplement employees' volunteer service. The Chrysler Foundation will provide eligible U.S. nonprofits a $500 Motor Citizens grant when a team of 10 or more employees contribute a total of 30 hours of service to a project.

"We have created new tools, including the Motor Citizens volunteer website, to better meet the needs of our employee volunteers and our non-profit partners who are driving social change," said Trapasso. "The Chrysler Motor Citizens volunteer program goes beyond the walls of our offices to help build strong communities both here at home and around the world."

Accordingly, Chrysler Group is also launching an online toolkit for its dealers to plan, manage and track their volunteer activities within their communities. Dealers have a tradition of community involvement that ranges from supporting local athletic programs and scouting to providing support following natural disasters.

In addition to today's volunteer efforts, the company introduced an internal marketing campaign to encourage salaried employees to "Be an Engine for Change" by using their volunteer hours to help others. Spirited slogans such as "Tell your boss you need to work for someone else;" "Your time and talents are needed elsewhere;" and "Helping others starts by helping yourself to 18 hours of paid time off," call on the army of Chrysler Group volunteers to go out and make a difference in the world.

About Chrysler Group LLC
Chrysler Group LLC, formed in 2009 to establish a global strategic alliance with Fiat S.p.A., produces Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge SRT, Ram, FIAT and Mopar vehicles and products. With the resources, technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete on a global scale, the alliance builds on Chrysler Group's culture of innovation, first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925, and Fiat's complementary technology that dates back to its founding in 1899.

Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., Chrysler Group's product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler 300 and Town & Country, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Dart, Ram 1500, Dodge SRT Viper and Fiat 500. Fiat contributes world-class technology, platforms and powertrains for small- and medium-size cars, allowing Chrysler Group to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.

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