Lead By Example: Marchionne And Executives Packed Food Boxes For Needy Without A Media Blitz

Last fall -- on Thursday, Oct. 6, to be exact -- Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne led 200 of his company's top executives on a half-day expedition to downtown Detroit, to the United Way for Southeastern Michigan headquarters.

They packed food boxes for schoolkids.

They saw the 2-1-1 human services call center in action.

They heard about United Way's crusade to boost graduation rates past 80% at high schools with the region's worst dropout rates.

Any such corporate commitment of top staff on a workday is unusual, but this was a really large group, and even more extraordinary, it was CHRYSLER -- whose top executives had largely disappeared from local civic and philanthropic activity for several years during its financial collapse, bailout, bankruptcy and struggle for survival.

 

Joe_Limon - 2/13/2012 12:03:22 PM

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Isn't this considered media?

AlleVier - 2/13/2012 1:09:14 PM

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Yes, but against the backdrop of the Super Bowl, hardly a blitz--plus it took place in October. As for Marchionne talking about corporate morality? Well, I know that it's supposed to make us feel warm and fuzzy, but the recipients of taxpayer-funded bailouts should be contractually bound to repay the taxpayers in a transparent manner (refund check) to maximize those feelings. The idea that they get to use their sense of morality to reward us in a manner and at a level as they see fit just makes me feel fuzzy, not warm.

Agent009 - 2/13/2012 1:22:17 PM

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He mentioned how Chrysler needed to payback the community for its support. Many executives lose touch of charity needs by simply writing a check. It is nice to break down those walls and met in the trenches. Getting involved is the key.

Joe_Limon - 2/13/2012 1:43:42 PM

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Who cares about the super bowl? Are you saying they are good because they could have been worse? lol

LexSucks - 2/13/2012 2:23:57 PM

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Agent009,

Like you really care about the poor. Comical.

Agent009 - 2/13/2012 4:10:21 PM

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LexSux - I do work with several charities on a regular basis and most are hands on in addition to a check.

LexSucks - 2/13/2012 2:21:11 PM

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What should the UAW workers have been doing? Help pack the boxes? You don't care about the poor. What difference does it make?

LexSucks - 2/13/2012 2:06:09 PM

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How dare he give food to the needy? The poor are supposed to starve!!! Or at least that's the belief here?

Joe_Limon - 2/13/2012 2:47:56 PM

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Who stated that?

LexSucks - 2/13/2012 3:30:25 PM

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Joe,
Do they actually have to say it? Wow!! They’ve implied it tons of times and it’s as clear as day.

Joe_Limon - 2/13/2012 3:31:49 PM

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Lexsucks, you have no argument. I can imply that you're communist simply because you imply it with your comments, but I don't, because you haven't actually came out and admitted it.

LexSucks - 2/13/2012 3:32:46 PM

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I could go back and dig up examples but why bother? I don't have the time to point out something that has been blatantly obvious here.

LexSucks - 2/13/2012 3:45:09 PM

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Joe,

Please show me anything that I've said that is communist? And explain how it is communist. And in regards to some people here not caring if poor people live or die? It isn't my fault that you can't read between the lines. And with Angryinch's and NoMoreObamas posts? You don't even have to read between the lines to realize that they don’t’ care one way or the other if poor folks live or die. The reason why you can’t see it is because you share similar ideologies with them.

Joe_Limon - 2/13/2012 4:13:23 PM

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Lexsucks, let me summarize bring up a few points I have learned about you whilst arguing with you in the past.

You believe corporations are evil. (as do communists)
You hate the gap between the rich and the poor. (as do communists)
You are all for social programs which help out the poor. (i.e. social leveling which is a communist ideal)

Joe_Limon - 2/13/2012 4:14:14 PM

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summarize by*

Agent009 - 2/13/2012 4:19:57 PM

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There is a difference between helping someone with a handout, and helping someone by teaching the tools for survival in life.

Both have their place but in general most people should not be on long term assistance. IMHO

LexSucks - 2/13/2012 5:29:11 PM

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Joe,

Are you for real? Anyone who's been shafted by corporations believes that they are evil. Are they Communists?

The wage gap? Salaries have remained stagnant for all but the top earners for about the last 30 years. That’s what happens when money influences politics. But that’s the system you like. A system of haves and have nots.

And I am for social programs that help out the poor. So was Jesus, Ghandi and Mother Theresa. Would you consider them to be Communists?

LexSucks - 2/13/2012 5:33:07 PM

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Joe,

Why do you guys demonize the poor and anyone who wants to help them out? Hard to beleive that you would call anyone who helps out the poor a communist. Clearly you have fallen for the propaganda.

Joe_Limon - 2/13/2012 5:49:59 PM

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Lexsucks, you're being a hypocrite. You are all to quick to attack other people for what you "read between the lines", and then you lash out at people who do it to you. Heck, you even did it again in your last post stating that I must "demonize the poor" and think that they are evil or something...

Joe_Limon - 2/13/2012 5:55:13 PM

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Further, do you honestly believe that the reaction most people get when they are laid off is that the reason why they got laid off is because the company they worked for is evil? I'm sorry if that is your reaction lol, but trust me, most people are a lot more level headed then that!

LexSucks - 2/13/2012 6:27:50 PM

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Calling someone a socialist for helping out the poor is indeed demonizing them (which is what you did). No in-between lines to read there.


You seem to think that there isn’t any legitimate reason why someone would think that a corporation is evil. WOW!! Not surprised though. You think that companies dumping toxic waste is well within their right. And when a company contaminates a town’s drinking water, it’s the people who live in the surrounding area that should sell their homes and move (Even though they lived there before the corporation moved there). I’m of a different viewpoint.

LexSucks - 2/13/2012 6:29:55 PM

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And oh yeah... Jesus, Ghandi, and Mother Theresa helped out the poor. Would you consider them to be Communists? You didn't answer that before.

LexSucks - 2/13/2012 6:38:36 PM

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I meant to say "Calling someone a communist for helping out the poor is indeed demonizing them."

AlleVier - 2/13/2012 7:32:17 PM

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LexSucks, don't get suckered into arguments with people who think that ideological labels such as "communist", "capitalist", "socialist", etc. are important. They tend to see the world in very simplistic terms and leave no room for complex and flexible solutions. Joe, for example, would not allow for disaster-relief programs because they help the poor and that's communist. Instead, preventing people from dying for lack of a few essentials would be up to the cost-benefit analysis of the accountants at Megaloman, Inc. (who would own just about everything, including the armed forces, because anti-monopoly laws are really kinda communist and because corporations, being the opposite of evil, are quite beneficent).

Joe_Limon - 2/14/2012 10:34:29 AM

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The difference between you and "Jesus, Ghandi, and Mother Theresa" is that these people offered to help change the world by the actions they make, not by forcing everyone else to conform. You are mistaken, I do not believe that helping less fortunate is a communist ideal. I do believe that forcing other people to help the less fortunate is a communist ideal. You see no issue with the government stepping in and telling people what they must do, taking their money, and distributing it where they wish. I entirely disagree with that form of governing.