GE Transportation recently announced a $1.3 million contribution to United Way. The donation combines employee contributions to the 2010 United Way campaign with a 50% match from the GE Foundation.
Despite lower total employment at the Lawrence Park plant in 2010, employees' total giving increased over the previous year. While there were fewer donors, those who contributed to United Way increased their giving by an average of $50 per person.
"This contribution demonstrates our commitment to supporting our neighbors in the community through challenging times," said GE Transportation President and CEO Lorenzo Simonelli. "In 2010 the needs in the community were great, and GE and its employees wanted to make a difference in people's lives. The needs continue, and so does our willingness to help."
United Way of Erie County Senior Vice President R.J. Zonna added, "The great thing about the employees of GE is that when times are tough, they step up! We were concerned that lower employment levels would lead to a significant loss in giving. But the employees really came through, and the matching funds from the GE Foundation made their contributions go even further. That's what it means to LIVE UNITED!"
GE Transportation will be recognized at the United Way Annual Meeting today for having the largest workplace campaign increase (in total dollars) over the previous year. GE Transportation led all other Erie businesses with an increase of $60,000.
One of the most active corporate citizens in the greater Erie community for more than 100 years, GE has made numerous strategic investments in recent years to improve the long-term competitiveness of the region:
- A $15 million, 5-year Developing Futures grant from the GE Foundation is improving math and science education throughout the Erie School District. The grant, made in 2007, is also enhancing professional development for teachers. In addition, GE information technology experts worked with the school district to implement a new IT system that puts real-time student data in teachers' hands, enabling them to make better decisions about student learning. The IT program is projected to produce a savings of $1 million over 10 years.
- Through a $4 million GE Foundation grant to the GO College program in March 2011, students at Central Technical High School, East High School, and Strong Vincent High School will receive expanded services to help them to enter, succeed in, and graduate from college.
- In February 2011, the GE Foundation provided grants totaling $500,000 to enable Community Health Net Centers to expand services to uninsured and under-insured patients in the Erie area.
- GE Transportation's charitable giving to local non-profits totaled more than $500,000 in 2010 and included organizations as diverse as Community Shelter Services, Habitat for Humanity, Booker T. Washington Center, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
In addition to financial support, GE volunteers provide local charitable organizations with hands-on help in the form of intellectual resources and manpower. Roughly 430 employees volunteered thousands of hours at more than 140 events in 2010. Employees' friends and family members contribute hundreds of additional hours annually. GE Volunteers are currently engaged in initiatives for 15 different non-profits including FIRST robotics, Community Health Net, GO College, Boys & Girls Club, WellFit, and others.
See the full press release here: GE Announces $1.3 Million Contribution to United Way.
