February 18, 2014
Michael Wayland

DETROIT, MI- Vincent B. Tilford and other officials were all smiles when performing their “happy dance” Monday morning in Detroit.

Tilford, Habitat for Humanity Detroit executive director, and a handful of employees/volunteers with the nonprofit agency did the dance -- comprised of hands in the air and spinning -- after accepting a $400,000 check from the GM Foundation.

The check was presented in honor of former General Motors Co. CEO and chairman Dan Akerson and his wife, Karin, for their “commitment to Detroit.”

“He and his wife, they really embraced Detroit even though they weren’t native Detroiters,” Tilford said. “For them to have given to us from their hearts was just an honor. We’re even more honored now that GM is recognizing them and their philanthropy in Detroit.”

Akerson retired from the Detroit-based automaker last month. Karin and Dan Akerson supported the nonprofit during his tenure as CEO, including a $1 million donation in 2012.

Akerson also sent his 1958 Corvette to auction, raising $270,000 for the Habitat affiliate. In 2013, the Akersons received the “Sponsor of the Year Award” from Habitat for Humanity of Michigan, which also renamed the award in their honor.

The check was one of three given out to Detroit charities Monday morning in honor of the former CEO and his wife, who previously supported the charities. The money donated today will go toward building a house and expanding the organization’s capacity to serve more families.

“All of them are very special to us and all of them are ones that were important to Dan and Karin,” said GM Foundation President Vivian Pickard after donating the check. “Dan served as a CEO of General Motors and a very significant component of Dan’s leadership was giving back to the community and making a difference.”

Source
MLive