Over the past year, General Motors and the GM Foundation have had a sharp focus on strengthening the communities we serve. Most notably, GM’s North America President Mark Reuss, a board member of the GM Foundation, made possible the GM Foundation's largest grant ever - $27.1 million to the United Way of Southeastern Michigan.  The grant created a "Network of Excellence" in seven metro Detroit high schools to increase graduation rates from approximately 50% to 80% over the next five years.  The gift was the largest grant ever received by the United Way of Southeastern Michigan.

While GM employees have a long history of giving back to their communities, in 2011 the new teamGM Cares Volunteer program was formed to bolster the grant, as well as help those in need.  The company's hearts and hands on the ground, the teamGM Volunteers have participated in numerous projects to help the youth attending the seven United Way Network of Excellence Schools, including mentoring, conducting food/personal care drives and participating in school clean ups, career days and more.

Outside of the schools, the teamGM Cares volunteers support numerous community organizations. Right here in the Detroit area, they have adopted families over the holidays, collected money and mittens for young school children, have packed food for Gleaners and Forgotten Harvest, have collected Halloween costumes and treats for Matrix Human Services, mentored robotics teams, participated in telethons, helped to clean up Belle Isle and much more.

Across the United States, teamGM Cares Volunteers have assisted with disaster relief efforts and have lent their time to many meaningful volunteer projects.