GM Foundation awards $100K to area nonprofits

LORDSTOWN — It's a day of thanks at the General Motors Lordstown complex.

The GM Foundation awarded $100,000 to seven area non-profits at the Community Appreciation Day this morning.

The celebration was also for the 50th ground-breaking anniversary at the Lordstown plant.

Steve Notar Donato, the new general manager of the Lordstown complex, spoke about the success of the Cruze and the support that is necessary to receive from the local community organizations.

"We want to help recognize that [support]," he said.

Outside of the seven organizations reflected at the appreciation day, members of the Chevy All Stars, the Mayor of Lordstown Arno Hill, United Auto Workers Local 1112 and Local 1714 member and others were at the event.

"It wasn't that long ago when this plant was carrying the [Mahoning] Valley and I think we are on our way back," Hill said.

Award recipients were Boys and Girls Club of Youngstown, American Cancer Society of the Northeast Ohio Region, Inspiring Minds of Warren, March of Dimes Northern Ohio Chapter, Miss Liberty House of Ravenna, the Warren Family Mission and the United Ways of Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

" It feels good to do this and we are proud to be a part of that," Notar Donato said. "This is our honor to be a part of this."

Everyone at the event was invited to take a first look at the 2015 Chevrolet Cruze built at Lordstown.

For the complete story, read Saturday's Vindicator and Vindy.com