Download Print FCA Canada: ‘Motor Citizen’ Employee Volunteers Upgrade Gesstwood Retreat & Camp Centre in Essex, Ont. FCA Canada “Motor Citizen” employee volunteers descend to Gesstwood Camp & Retreat Centre in Essex, Ont., for FCA Community Day of Caring Tasks included upgrading, painting and repairing of camp facilities, structures and overall landscape Gesstwood Camp has been serving the local community for 55 years FCA Canada has a proud history of supporting and giving back to the Windsor-Essex community April 26, 2015 , Windsor, Ontario - Today, nearly 50 “Motor Citizen” volunteers from FCA Canada’s (formerly Chrysler Canada) Windsor headquarters and offices, along with the United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County, teamed up at the Gesstwood Retreat & Camp Centre to help upgrade, paint and repair a number of the camp’s facilities, structures and overall landscape. The Gesstwood Camp & Retreat Centre fix-up is part of FCA Canada’s Community Day of Caring, a program led by the United Way, which encourages employee volunteerism and community involvement. The day aligns with FCA’s “Motor Citizen” volunteer program, which offers employees up to 18 hours of paid time off each year to make a difference in the world by participating in volunteer projects. For 55 years, the Gesstwood Camp, located in the heart of Essex County, has been serving the community by hosting a number of activities including reunions, retreats and conferences to encourage team building, personal growth, leadership and problem-solving skills training. The Gesstwood complex includes 20 acres of playground, 35 acres of forest, seven acres of meandering creek and is home to a large and diverse number of wildlife. Gesstwood also houses summer camps for hundreds of students. FCA Canada employee volunteers spent the day building, repairing and painting new picnic tables, cabins, porches, garages and an outdoor theatre, as well as weeding, planting and re-mulching areas in disrepair, plus much more. More than 375 volunteer hours were spent with 20 gallons of paint, 31,760 screws, 240 washers, 750 nails, three eaves troughs and more than 479 pieces of various sizes and types of lumber. Employees took up work gloves, painting supplies, power tools and gardening equipment to help repair and brighten up the camp. “Helping to grow leaders for today and tomorrow, while giving back to our community, is at our core at FCA,” said Reid Bigland, President and CEO, FCA Canada. “I couldn’t be more proud of our volunteers’ efforts in supporting a valuable resource like the Gesstwood Retreat & Camp Centre. It’s a natural fit for us toward the betterment of Windsor and Essex County and those who work and live among us.” “We’re incredibly honoured to have such a strong relationship with the FCA Canada team. Time and time again, they rise to the occasion by supporting the community in so many ways,” said Lorraine Goddard, CEO, United Way Centraide Windsor-Essex County. “The commitment and generosity exhibited by the employees of FCA Canada is simply outstanding.” FCA Canada has a proud history of supporting the Windsor-Essex community through its annual fundraising campaigns for United Way, including children's book donations, massive toy collections that benefit Sparky’s Toy Drive, blood donations through Canadian Blood Services, canned good collections for the Downtown Mission, Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul, as well as many other initiatives. About United Way United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County mobilizes the caring power of the local community to improve lives in measurable and lasting ways. The United Way focuses on three priority areas: reducing poverty, helping kids and families, and creating thriving neighbourhoods. Additional information is available at www.weareunited.com. FCA Canada Founded as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925, FCA Canada Inc. is based in Windsor, Ontario, and celebrates its 97th anniversary in 2022. FCA Canada is a wholly owned subsidiary of FCA, a North American automaker based in Auburn Hills, Michigan and member of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) family of companies. FCA Canada has approximately 440 dealers that sell Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep®, Ram, FIAT and Alfa Romeo products, as well as SRT performance products. The company also distributes Mopar and Alfa Romeo parts and accessories. In addition to its assembly facilities, which produce the Chrysler Pacifica, Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, Chrysler Voyager and Chrysler Grand Caravan (Windsor) and Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger (Brampton), FCA Canada operates an aluminum casting plant in Etobicoke, a research and development centre in Windsor, and has sales offices and parts distribution centers throughout the country.