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One-millionth Cruze raffled
By Kalea Hall
LORDSTOWN
Sharon Frey, a General Motors Lordstown employee, was chosen by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Cleveland, out of almost 4,000 others at the United Auto Workers Locals 1112 and 1714 1-millionth Chevrolet Cruze raffle Wednesday.
“That’s my car,” she said as she saw the bright-red Cruze for the first time. “Of course I wanted it.”
Frey is a team leader at the GM Lordstown East Plant where she has worked for 20 years. Her husband, Ron, is a retired GM Lordstown employee who worked at the same plant for 32 years.
Sharon plans on putting the Cruze — which became a piece of GM Lordstown history after it was built April 10, 2014 — in her garage and drive it only on sunny days.
“I might keep it for my grandkids,” she said.
The raffle was open to the 4,500 employees at GM Lordstown and about 18,000 retirees.
In addition to handing out the Cruze to a UAW employee, the two unions also provided St. Vincent de Paul Society of Youngstown with a $10,000 check. The donation came from the proceeds generated through the sale of raffle tickets for the Cruze beyond the cost for the car. The unions purchased the car.
Brian Antal, president of the society’s Mahoning district, found out the proceeds would go to St. Vincent when he saw UAW Local 1112 President Glenn Johnson at a Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.
“I had tears in my eyes and goose bumps,” Antal said. “This will go to feed the needy. We are humbled and honored that the UAW [Locals 1112 and 1714] chose us.”
St. Vincent fed more than 100,000 people last year while operating on private donations and grants.
Brown spoke at the event about the importance of the Lordstown plant not only to the Mahoning Valley, but to Ohio because of the multiple plants that serve Lordstown.
“I love this plant, and I love this car [the Cruze],” Brown said.
Brown’s wife drives a Cruze, his daughter drives a Cruze Eco, and members of his staff drive Cruzes.
“Brown has been a supporter of the Lordstown plant,” Johnson said. “It was an honor to have him here today.”
Lordstown Plant Manager Steve Notar Donato discussed the importance of partnership at the complex.
“It takes that kind of partnership to be successful,” he said.
Since the millionth Cruze was built, 140,000 more Cruzes were built at the plant. Just a few weeks ago, the 2015 Cruze started to make it to dealerships.
“We think the 2015 is going to be a hit in the market,” Notar Donato said.
Both the East and West plants have construction underway to prepare for the next-generation Cruze. Last May, GM announced a $50 million investment at Lordstown. The investment funds a new flexible trim shop and upgrades to the press room, according to Vindicator files.