Saab Makes-A-Wish, Donates $100,000

The year started in style for Swedish manufacturer Saab, who decided the best way to thank Providence for saving it from the GM ax is to do a little bit of charity. At the beginning of the month, the car maker concluded the Saab Test Drive campaign which began on November 22, a program intended to both promote and help.

At the end of the campaign, Saab was left with $100,000, a sum which it gave away for charity earlier this week. The money will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping children with life-threatening medical conditions across the US.

"Saab is proud to be associated with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and its incredible efforts toward children facing life-threatening medical conditions," said Matthias Seidl, Interim COO for Saab Cars North America.

"It gives me great pleasure to present a donation of $100,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation to spread the life-affirming impact of its wish-granting mission to deserving children across the country."

The money, which was donated, was raised with the help of the people who came in for test drives. For each test drive aboard a new 9-5 or 9-3 sedan or sport combi models, Saab set aside $50. That means that the Swedish manufacturer had 2,000 people taking the cars for a ride these past few months.

"We thank Saab and everyone who participated in the Saab Drive to Give campaign for enabling us to make more children's wishes come true," said David Williams, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and chief executive officer. "This campaign gave people a simple, fun way to support the wishes of seriously ill kids in their communities, one that will last throughout the year."