Habitat is receiving a New Year's gift, courtesy of Nissan North America Inc. (NNA). Today, Nissan donated 50 full-size Nissan Titan trucks to support the organization’s rebuilding efforts in the Gulf Coast region due to the devastation of the 2005 hurricane season. Dan Gaudette, senior vice president, North American Manufacturing and Quality Assurance, NNA, presented the fleet to Chris Clarke and Ken Meinert, senior vice presidents of Communications and Operation Home Delivery for Habitat, in a ceremony held on the campus of Nissan’s vehicle assembly plant in Canton, Miss.
The retail value of the 50 Nissan trucks is more than $1 million.
“We recognize that it will take a long time and enormous efforts to rebuild along the Gulf Coast. With these Titan trucks, Nissan will help that work proceed,” said Gaudette. “Nissan’s corporate mission is to ‘enrich people’s lives,’ and our trucks will help Habitat enrich the lives of many people whose homes were ruined by the hurricanes.”
Nissan became involved in hurricane relief efforts immediately after the impact of the 2005 hurricane season became clear. Nissan’s efforts included a cash donation of $500,000 to the American Red Cross; a donation of 50 vehicles to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency; the establishment of the “Nissan Disaster Relief Fund” to aid affected Nissan employees, dealers and affiliates; dollar-for-dollar company-matched employee donations to various relief organizations totaling up to $250,000; and employee donations of items to benefit victims and evacuees nationwide. In addition, Nissan’s Canton employees joined with Habitat in October to build two new homes in their local community.