Oshawa, Ontario — The Durham Children’s Aid Foundation (DCAF) yet again welcomed a convoy of Oshawa-built trucks, stuffed to the brim with gifts and toys, General Motors Oshawa’s “Sharon’s Kids” initiative carries on its more-than-50-year legacy.
As part of the overall fundraising effort, GM held a contest among its dealers during which $253,000 from 106 dealers were raised, with the winner earning the chance to purchase the first 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 built for Canada.
This year’s winning dealer was Lakewood Chevrolet in Edmonton, who plan on purchasing a Torch Red Corvette Z06 Convertible 3LZ.
Accounting for the money raised in the dealer contest, a $20,000 donation from Oshawa Assembly through the Plant City Grant Program and more than $40,000 in gifts from GM Canada employees, this year’s Sharon’s Kids fundraiser managed to raise about $313,000 for the DCAF.
“I’m so proud to see the generosity of our dealers and employees who came together to support this program that began over 50 years ago in Oshawa,” said president and managing director of GM Canada, Marissa West.
“I want to thank everyone for helping to continue Sharon’s legacy by making the holidays brighter for kids and families in Durham Region.”
The fundraiser was first started back in 1968 by a GM Oshawa employee named Sharon Clark and has since grown to become an annual holiday tradition for GM employees across Canada.
Clark died in April 2020 after a brave battle with cancer.
“Every year GM Canada employees look forward to supporting the Holiday Hope program in memory of Sharon Clark,” said Oshawa plant director Thorsten Koseck.
“This year we had the pleasure of sharing Sharon’s culture of community and giving in Oshawa with the new employees at the plant. I have been participating in the Sharon’s Kids program for more than 30 years and every year I’m overwhelmed by the amazing outpouring of support from the plant who supported more families this year than ever before. I’m so proud of the team for their commitment to continue the legacy Sharon left, to make smiles possible this holiday season.”
For those who are interested in contributing, donations are still being accepted on the DCAF website.
