GM dealers raise $160,000-plus for Durham Children’s Aid in Oshawa

The legacy of Sharon’s Kids continued last week when a convoy of Oshawa-built Chevrolet Silverado pickups, filled with toys and gifts, made their way to the Durham Children’s Aid Foundation where GM Canada also presented a donation from its dealers across Canada.

GM Canada held a dealer contest for the chance to buy Oshawa’s first pick-up truck off the line after the company resumed vehicle production last month. The contest raised $115,000 for Durham Children’s Aid through donations from 163 GM dealers.

Employees and dealers have now donated more than $650,000 to the Children’s Aid in Durham since 2018 in honour of Sharon’s Kids, a program that has provided holiday gifts to children in need since it was founded by GM employee Sharon Clark in 1968.

Clark died in April 2020 after a battle with cancer.

The winning dealer in the contest is Paillé Chevrolet Buick GMC in Berthierville, Quebec, who will take delivery of VIN 001 in January – a white 2022 Silverado HD High Country with exclusive ‘VIN 001’ graphics.

“Thank you to everyone who came together in the spirit of giving and congratulations to Paillé Chevrolet Buick GMC, who now owns a piece of Canadian history,” said Scott Bell, GM Canada president and managing director. “GM Canada and our community have supported Durham Children’s Aid for over fifty years, and I am so proud that we are honouring Sharon’s legacy to make the holidays a little brighter for children that need it most in the Durham Region.”

The $160,000 donated to DCAF is made up of monetary donations from the GM Canada dealer contest, a $10,000 donation from Oshawa Assembly through the Plant City Grant Program and more than $36,000 in gifts from GM Canada employees. These presents will be distributed to hundreds of families through the DCAF Holiday Hope Program. John Henry, Durham Regional Chair, and Dan Carter, Mayor of Oshawa, joined the convoy of pickups delivering the presents from GM employees to the Children’s Aid.

Dennis Ullman, the CEO of the Durham Children’s Aid Foundation, was grateful for the support from General Motors.

“The Durham Children’s Aid Foundation is so thankful for the ongoing support we receive from GM Canada and their network of dealers across Canada. The response to the Dealer contest was absolutely amazing,” he said “With their support, we will help over 1,000 people living in vulnerable situations celebrate the holiday season just like their friends and neighbours. Together we are working to ensure that No Child Shall Be Left Behind.”