Filter heroes statewide, by region or by cause.
Cathrine Ovenshire
Oxford
Hero Story
Sometimes in life, you meet a person that is exceptional. You take a minute, evaluate, and conclude that something is special about this person. Cathrine was exceptional in this way.
Prior to Cathrine’s employment at General Motors, she worked as a flight crew member with another company. While employed there, Cathrine witnessed gifts delivered and loaded onto aircrafts to support Operation Good Cheer (OGC).
OGC is an annual event sponsored by Child and Family Services of Michigan to make Christmas wishes true for children in foster care. The success of this program relies upon volunteers to receive children’s’ wish lists, purchase and wrap presents, and deliver them to a designated location. Cathrine was emotionally moved by this organization’s mission and was inspired to help.
Cathrine began her involvement with OGC by sponsoring children with her family, but it soon became (in her eyes) nearly not enough. Cathrine fundamentally understood this concept, people want to help; it’s just often they don’t know where or how to start. In 2015, Cathrine began championing OGC’s cause to her new colleagues at General Motors. “Cathrine was a strong determined woman with a big heart. A heart big enough to always be thinking of others and the determination to bring something like Operation Good Cheer to life at GM. Not only did she bring this wonderful cause to life, she was its beating heart” – Jennifer K.
In 2015, GM sponsored 65 children, 20 of which Cathrine managed by inspiring others within her organization. Gabriella V. said, “Cathrine’s excitement and enthusiasm for Operation Good Cheer was contagious!” and Carol K., “Cathrine’s love for the program and the idea of giving back to those less fortunate became just as important to all of us as it was to her.”
Cathrine did not stop with one year and one organization, she continued. “Cathrine was passionate about helping children in need. Her face lit up whenever she talked about OGC’s mission and expressed how the stories had personally impacted her and made her cry. I was thrilled to hear about the program from Cathrine, as I have an adopted niece who came out of foster care and experienced many of the challenges the OGC children face. Inspired by Cathrine’s enthusiasm, I rallied my team to support a child” – Julie L.
Each year, GM employees sponsored more and more children. “To say Cathrine was passionate about giving back is an understatement. She was emotional, eager, and zealous about serving others” – Natalie G. To her, OGC wasn’t seasonal, she presented the program year-long. Cathrine networked, built relationships, and asked to present the program to different organizations throughout the company. She was tireless. In 2020, GM employees sponsored over 800 foster children, 173 of which Cathrine directly managed through her contacts — but truthfully, her impact was much larger. Five years! Five years! Who knows how much more Cathrine would have achieved, if only given more time.
On February 13th of this year, Cathrine passed away from cancer, she was 50 years old. A wife, a mother of twin girls, a daughter, a sister, and a friend, her death is certainly a deep and profound loss. “From the time I met Cathrine until her untimely passing, she was always determined to do better and never stay idle.” – Dan B. It’s in Cathrine’s spirit, we continue.
Whether she knew it or not, Cathrine wasn’t just a heroine for the children, she was for all of us. For all of us employees at General Motors who want to help but are unsure of how to start. Or those of us who find happiness in pouring over children’s wish lists or shopping and building bikes with our colleagues each year. Or for us who use it as an opportunity to listen to holiday music and drink hot cocoa to build trust and rapport with our teammates (another one of Cathrine’s suggestions). Or for those of us who use it as an activity to launch us into the true reason for the season: to celebrate love, camaraderie, joy, compassion and generosity – this is Cathrine’s legacy. Amy B., “Cathrine’s generous spirit and charismatic personality will be missed but will always be remembered. Each year when we are wrapping our Operation Good Cheer gifts for the children, I will see her smile and know that her legacy at GM will live on.”
Admired by all who knew her, always a step above what one expected, a genuinely empathetic and outstanding individual; this was our hero, Cathrine.
Cathrine Ovenshire
Oxford
Hero Story
Sometimes in life, you meet a person that is exceptional. You take a minute, evaluate, and conclude that something is special about this person. Cathrine was exceptional in this way.
Prior to Cathrine’s employment at General Motors, she worked as a flight crew member with another company. While employed there, Cathrine witnessed gifts delivered and loaded onto aircrafts to support Operation Good Cheer (OGC).
OGC is an annual event sponsored by Child and Family Services of Michigan to make Christmas wishes true for children in foster care. The success of this program relies upon volunteers to receive children’s’ wish lists, purchase and wrap presents, and deliver them to a designated location. Cathrine was emotionally moved by this organization’s mission and was inspired to help.
Cathrine began her involvement with OGC by sponsoring children with her family, but it soon became (in her eyes) nearly not enough. Cathrine fundamentally understood this concept, people want to help; it’s just often they don’t know where or how to start. In 2015, Cathrine began championing OGC’s cause to her new colleagues at General Motors. “Cathrine was a strong determined woman with a big heart. A heart big enough to always be thinking of others and the determination to bring something like Operation Good Cheer to life at GM. Not only did she bring this wonderful cause to life, she was its beating heart” – Jennifer K.
In 2015, GM sponsored 65 children, 20 of which Cathrine managed by inspiring others within her organization. Gabriella V. said, “Cathrine’s excitement and enthusiasm for Operation Good Cheer was contagious!” and Carol K., “Cathrine’s love for the program and the idea of giving back to those less fortunate became just as important to all of us as it was to her.”
Cathrine did not stop with one year and one organization, she continued. “Cathrine was passionate about helping children in need. Her face lit up whenever she talked about OGC’s mission and expressed how the stories had personally impacted her and made her cry. I was thrilled to hear about the program from Cathrine, as I have an adopted niece who came out of foster care and experienced many of the challenges the OGC children face. Inspired by Cathrine’s enthusiasm, I rallied my team to support a child” – Julie L.
Each year, GM employees sponsored more and more children. “To say Cathrine was passionate about giving back is an understatement. She was emotional, eager, and zealous about serving others” – Natalie G. To her, OGC wasn’t seasonal, she presented the program year-long. Cathrine networked, built relationships, and asked to present the program to different organizations throughout the company. She was tireless. In 2020, GM employees sponsored over 800 foster children, 173 of which Cathrine directly managed through her contacts -- but truthfully, her impact was much larger. Five years! Five years! Who knows how much more Cathrine would have achieved, if only given more time.
On February 13th of this year, Cathrine passed away from cancer, she was 50 years old. A wife, a mother of twin girls, a daughter, a sister, and a friend, her death is certainly a deep and profound loss. “From the time I met Cathrine until her untimely passing, she was always determined to do better and never stay idle.” – Dan B. It’s in Cathrine’s spirit, we continue.
Whether she knew it or not, Cathrine wasn’t just a heroine for the children, she was for all of us. For all of us employees at General Motors who want to help but are unsure of how to start. Or those of us who find happiness in pouring over children’s wish lists or shopping and building bikes with our colleagues each year. Or for us who use it as an opportunity to listen to holiday music and drink hot cocoa to build trust and rapport with our teammates (another one of Cathrine’s suggestions). Or for those of us who use it as an activity to launch us into the true reason for the season: to celebrate love, camaraderie, joy, compassion and generosity – this is Cathrine’s legacy. Amy B., “Cathrine’s generous spirit and charismatic personality will be missed but will always be remembered. Each year when we are wrapping our Operation Good Cheer gifts for the children, I will see her smile and know that her legacy at GM will live on.”
Admired by all who knew her, always a step above what one expected, a genuinely empathetic and outstanding individual; this was our hero, Cathrine.