American Red Cross, HUMMER and GM Foundation announce six-year partnership

72 HUMMER vehicles, $600,000 to be donated by GM Foundation

WASHINGTON, Wednesday, October 12, 2005 — The American Red Cross and HUMMER are pleased to announce a partnership which will provide the American Red Cross with vehicles and cash totaling $4 million, through a donation from the GM Foundation. This month, American Red Cross chapters in areas of the U.S. most devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will receive a total of four 2006 HUMMER H3’s for use in their hurricane relief efforts and on-going programs and services. Additionally, two 2006 HUMMER H1 Alpha’s will be donated to the organization’s national Emergency Communication Response Vehicle (ECRV) fleet.

Through 2010, a total of 72 HUMMER vehicles, which will include a combination of H1, H2 and H3 models, will be donated. This fall, a total of six trucks will be delivered to Red Cross chapters in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Biloxi, Mississippi; Houston, Texas and the Red Cross national headquarters in Washington, D.C.

In addition to the vehicles, the GM Foundation will contribute $100,000 annually for six years to strengthen communities’ ability to be prepared and respond to emergencies. This partnership continues General Motors’ long history of support for the Red Cross, particularly in the area of disaster relief.

“We’re excited about embarking on a new adventure with the GM Foundation and HUMMER,” said Marsha J. Evans, president and CEO of the American Red Cross. “Their past support has been outstanding; and these vehicles and financial support will help make the Red Cross and local communities stronger and more ready to respond to life’s emergencies.”

“We laid the foundation for this partnership last fall, and are pleased to now donate vehicles and support needed for vital relief work,” said Susan Docherty, HUMMER general manager. “We think HUMMERs offer the Red Cross many advantages, including cargo carrying capacity and four-wheel drive capabilities which will help them serve as reliable support vehicles, especially in natural disasters.”

Rod Gillum, GM vice president Corporate Responsibility and Diversity and Chairman, GM Foundation says the American Red Cross and its critical work has been a major focus area for GM and the GM Foundation for years. “We have regularly contributed cash, supported blood drives in our facilities, and encouraged our employees to volunteer,” said Gillum. “Now the GM Foundation is pleased to fulfill the American Red Cross’ request to support its relief and recovery infrastructure by donating a fleet of what are arguably the world’s most capable vehicles -- HUMMERs.”

To help make the jobs of Red Cross volunteers and employees easier, H2 and H3 vehicles will be equipped with complimentary OnStar services, including hands-free calling minutes and OnStar’s "Directions and Connections" plan. It provides drivers with driving directions, and help finding hotels, gas, and other destinations. It also includes air bag deployment notification to OnStar advisors, remote vehicle diagnostics, remote door unlock and other emergency help.

To ensure the donated vehicles remain operational for Red Cross use in critical times, GM will provide Major Guard Protection extended service coverage for all vehicles at no charge.

The donation of HUMMER vehicles and cash further expands General Motors’ long-standing relationship with the American Red Cross. In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, total GM giving to Red Cross hurricane relief efforts is expected to exceed $3.5 million, including cash, employee donations and matching funds. GM also immediately provided more than 250 SUV’s (including HUMMER vehicles), trucks and vans for use by ARC and various relief agencies in their recovery efforts along the Southern Gulf region.

The American Red Cross is where people mobilize to help their neighbors—across the street, across the country and across the world—in emergencies. Each year, in communities large and small, victims of some 70,000 disasters turn to neighbors familiar and new—the nearly 1 million volunteers and 35,000 employees of the Red Cross. Through almost 900 locally supported chapters, more than 15 million people gain the skills they need to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their homes, communities and world. Some 4 million people give blood—the gift of life—through the Red Cross, making it the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The Red Cross helps thousands of U.S. service members separated from their families by military duty stay connected. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, a global network of 181 national societies, the Red Cross helps restore hope and dignity to the world’s most vulnerable people. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work. Marsha J. Evans is the President and CEO of the American Red Cross.

HUMMER is a division of General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest vehicle manufacturer, which employs about 325,000 people globally The HUMMER product line-up consists of three models, the H1, based on the military HUMVEE, the H2 and the H3. The H2 SUV went on sale in July 2002 and the new H2 SUT was first available in the summer of 2004. The all-new midsize H3 began arriving in dealer showrooms in May 2005.

The GM Foundation was established in 1976 to support the philanthropic interests and business priorities of General Motors Corporation. In 2004, worldwide contributions by GM and the GM Foundation totaled $68 million.

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Kara Bunte

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American Red Cross

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