Community

Julie Muirhead, Tax Staff Attorney
GM of Canada Ltd.

“I am a volunteer with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Toronto, and being a volunteer has been a wonderful experience for me.  For the past three years, I have been matched with my Little Sister Skyler, who is a lovely young woman, filled with potential.  Skyler and I meet for at least four hours every two weeks.  With tickets donated to the Big Brothers and Sisters program, I occasionally take Skyler to theatre productions, professional sports games, and concerts, things Skyler would not otherwise have the opportunity to experience.  Ordinarily, Skyler and I spend time together doing such activities as going for bike rides or playing Crazy 8’s, her favorite card game.

Skyler does not otherwise receive a lot of individual attention, nor does she have many dependable adults in her life, so I believe that the time we spend together will have a positive impact on her development.  Spending time with Skyler is a pleasure for me, especially because I believe I am making a difference in her life.  I am very proud to be part of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program.”

Lidia Rojas, Señor Buyer, General Purchasing
Andean Region, GMVPI Venezuela

“My highest achievement has been to be the first volunteer to achieve individually more than 50 hours of volunteer work during 2005.  This program has motivated employees to participate in activities oriented to help others in our communities.

GMVPI has helped me interact with my co-workers and has also allowed me to get to see new places.  This year I would like to help organizations to manage their resources so they optimize their budget and people; this way they can help more people.”

Terri Milburn, Senior Program Manager
GM of Canada Ltd.

“Good career decisions require good information.  As a member of the Oshawa Local Women’s Advisory Council (OLWAC), I had the rewarding opportunity to integrate with the community and actively motivate young people into the areas of business and manufacturing.

I was one of ten OLWAC members who collaborated with the non-profit organization Junior Achievement to deliver the dynamic program “Business Basics 5” to grade five classrooms.  This program focuses on four central areas of business - Organization, Management, Production, and Marketing.  As trained volunteers, we led enthusiastic students through several activities such as how to apply for a job, the differences between unit and mass production, the roles and responsibilities of management, and how to promote a product in the marketplace. 

As a Commerce graduate, I feel somewhat obliged to extend my real life workplace skills to younger students, and like most General Motors employees, enjoy being an advocate for our exciting business.  Did you know that during the 2005/2006 school year 23 volunteers in total from General Motors helped deliver the “Business Basics 5” program?

What have I learned from this experience?  Volunteering for Junior Achievement has an impact that extends beyond the boundaries of the classroom.  I got much more out of the experience than I initially expected.  I credit the enjoyment of my experience to the camaraderie of my fellow OLWAC members, the professionalism of the Junior Achievement team, and most of all to the classrooms filled with young people who seem to possess unlimited creativity and a real flare for entrepreneurship!

The “special equipment option” of this volunteering initiative comes under GM Volunteer PLUS.  Because of this program, OLWAC was able to provide Junior Achievement with a much needed financial donation, all of which goes directly toward program delivery.

Heartfelt thanks to you and the wonderful ladies of the OLWAC for giving so generously of your time and energy to the Youth of Durham Region.  Thank you also for submitting an application to the GM Volunteer Plus Program on JA's behalf.  General Motors and its staff are truly MAKING A DIFFERENCE!”