THANKS!: GM Donates 150th Vehicle To The Nature Conservancy

FOR RELEASE: December 3, 2002

General Motors Donates 150th Vehicle To The Nature Conservancy

Conservation Group Receives a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado at the GM Doraville Assembly Plant

ATLANTA - General Motors today donated its 150th vehicle, a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck from the Doraville Assembly Plant, to The Nature Conservancy.

"We are proud to be a partner of The Nature Conservancy," said Dave Prange, plant manger, GM Doraville Assembly Plant. "It means a great deal to be involved with the donation to our local chapter and, ultimately, the conservation of the great natural places that Georgia has to offer."

The Nature Conservancy's scientists will use the Silverado pickup truck to travel across the often-rugged northern Georgia and southern Tennessee terrain while carrying out the organization's work. In the field, the Conservancy will record populations of threatened or endangered animal and plant species, gain access to very remote areas to stock mussel species, and meet with local landowners to promote sustainable agricultural practices.

GM and the Conservancy have an on-going relationship that is unprecedented in size and scope. In 1994, GM made a 10-year commitment to provide $10 million in cash and vehicles. Since then, GM has donated more than $6.6 million in cash and 150 trucks to aid the work of the Conservancy across the U.S. and in many countries of the world. GM increased its original commitment by providing an additional $10 million to the Conservancy to restore and protect about 30,000 acres of endangered land in the Atlantic Rainforest Restoration Project in Brazil.

"We are very pleased with what we've accomplished in this partnership," said Elizabeth A. Lowery, GM vice president, environment and energy. "It is rewarding to know that our financial commitment has helped play a significant part in the important work the Conservancy performs."

GM's ten-year commitment to the Conservancy will exceed $21 million.

In addition to GM's corporate involvement, it also involved consumers in the Conservancy's causes via the GM Card. The program invited its 1999-2000 card members to donate a portion of their earnings toward a vehicle to the Conservancy through the "Cardmembers for Conservation" program. Generous card members contributed 19 Chevrolet trucks and $175,000 in cash, for a combined donation total worth $768,000. GM's employee-giving program has generated $395,000 for the Conservancy since 1998.

GM also supports the Conservancy's traveling photography exhibit, "In Response to Place: Photographs from The Nature Conservancy's Last Great Places." The exhibit is a celebration of The Nature Conservancy's 50th anniversary. In addition, GM Chairman Jack Smith is a member of the Conservancy's International Board of Governors and co-chairs its billion-dollar Campaign for Conservation.

"The Nature Conservancy is fortunate to have such a generous supporter and partner in General Motors," said Tavia McCuean, vice president and state director of The Nature Conservancy's Georgia Chapter. "GM's contributions and support have enabled the Conservancy to reach new heights in accomplishing our mission of conservation. The donation of a vehicle to the Georgia chapter will be of tremendous help in furthering our conservation work in such a biologically diverse state."

To link directly to an interactive map that showcases Conservancy preserves and GM truck donations around the world, go to:

http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/environment/partnerships/conservancy/tnc_truckmap_030502.html

The Nature Conservancy is a private, international, non-profit organization that preserves plants, animals and natural communities representing the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. To date, the Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 14 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 80 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. See its website at www.nature.org.

General Motors , the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, designs, builds and markets cars and trucks worldwide, and has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. GM employs about 355,000 people around the world. To learn more about GM's commitment to the environment, go to www.gmability.com.