FCA Canada Employees and Retirees Pledge More Than $1.26 Million Toward United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County 2017 Campaign

December 16, 2016 , Windsor, Ontario -  During a special presentation at FCA Canada’s Windsor Assembly Plant today, Company employees and Unifor Local 444 announced a donation of $1,260,609.17 to the United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County 2017 campaign. This year’s pledge marks an increase of $83,679 from one year ago.
  
The donation stands as the largest individual pledge toward the United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County since 2009. The figure also maintains the 30-year-plus tradition of FCA Canada employees and retirees giving at a level over $1 million.
 
“The employees of FCA Canada continue their unwavering commitment to Windsor-Essex County by donating generously to the United Way,” said Reid Bigland, Chairman, President and CEO, FCA Canada. “For over 30 years, the employees and retirees of FCA Canada have donated over $1 million dollars to the United Way and this year is no exception.”

“United Way stands for the education and financial stability of every person living in Windsor and Essex County,” said Lorraine Goddard, CEO of United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County. “FCA Canada and Unifor Locals 444, 1498, 195 and ONA Local 8 are standing beside us in that effort, and we couldn’t be more grateful for their partnership and support.”

“When our community reaches out, Unifor Local 444 will always be there as a community partner knowing all of the good that the United Way does across Windsor and Essex County,” said Dino Chiodo, President, Unifor Local 444. 

The employee participation rate for the 2017 campaign was 42 per cent, which was up from the 36 per cent from the 2016 campaign year, with an average pledge of $319. Under the new United Way donation levels for 2017, there were 62 employees this year that gave at the “Bronze Level,” which means employees contributed between $1,200 and $2,499. There were four donations at the “Silver Level,” for those individuals who contributed between $2,500 and $4,999.
 
The funds raised will help United Way in taking bold action against poverty across Windsor and Essex County. Poverty affects more than one in five people in our community. In fact, more than 42 per cent of single mothers in Windsor-Essex County are living in poverty, as well as one in four kids under the age of 7. Supporting United Way ensures that people in our local community have access to support to create possibility, including but not limited to healthy and fresh food so kids and families don’t go hungry; emergency assistance to help people get through tough times when there’s nowhere else to turn; after-school programs to give kids a safe place to go and get homework help; programs that help kids graduate through mentorship and support; and counselling programs that reduce stress for parents.
 
Windsor-Essex residents can also help join the cause and help give back to assist those most vulnerable in our community. The public is encouraged to take part and donate generously for this year’s United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County 2017 campaign.
 
Residents can call 519-258-0000 (ext.1145) or pledge online at https://www.weareunited.com/donate.
 
FCA Canada
Founded as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925, FCA Canada Inc. is based in Windsor, Ontario, and celebrates its 97th anniversary in 2022. FCA Canada is a wholly owned subsidiary of FCA, a North American automaker based in Auburn Hills, Michigan and member of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) family of companies. FCA Canada has approximately 440 dealers that sell Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep®, Ram, FIAT and Alfa Romeo products, as well as SRT performance products. The company also distributes Mopar and Alfa Romeo parts and accessories. In addition to its assembly facilities, which produce the Chrysler Pacifica, Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, Chrysler Voyager and Chrysler Grand Caravan (Windsor) and Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger (Brampton), FCA Canada operates an aluminum casting plant in Etobicoke, a research and development centre in Windsor, and has sales offices and parts distribution centers throughout the country.