TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- When a
homeless family receives low-income housing, they often need basic
furniture and help carrying the few items they collected while in
shelters. Last year, Family Promise of Grand Rapids helped move 30
families' belongings and donated home goods using a new Tundra the
organization won in 2012 through Toyota's 100 Cars for Good
philanthropic program. The Michigan-based organization helps homeless and
at-risk families with children get back on their feet.
"Before winning the Tundra, if we got a call with a furniture
donation that needed to be picked up within the week, we would not
be able to accept it, even if it was something our families really
needed," said Cheryl Schuch,
executive director of Family Promise of Grand Rapids. "A couch, a kitchen table and
other items help make a house a home for the kids and families in
our program, and Toyota's 100 Cars for Good helped us better
support these individuals in need."
Now 250 new nonprofit organizations have been named finalists in
the third year of Toyota's 100 Cars for Good philanthropic program.
Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations from across the
country submitted their stories and how new vehicles would support
their work. A complete list of finalists is available at
www.100carsforgood.com.
This year's finalists represent all 50 states and a range of
nonprofit sectors from disaster relief to animal welfare to
education. Running Oct. 1 –
Nov. 19, five finalists per day will
be eligible to win a new vehicle. Each day for 50 consecutive days,
Toyota will announce the two winning organizations that received
the highest number of votes from the public at
www.100carsforgood.com.
Since 2011, 100 Cars for Good has given away 200 vehicles to
organizations doing good work around the country. This year,
winners will be able to choose from five vehicle models, including
Toyota Highlander, Prius, Sienna, Sienna Mobility or Tundra, which
will also come with a six-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty
from Toyota Financial Services. Each day during voting, three
runners-up organizations will each receive a $1,000 grant to support their work.
"The vehicles won through Toyota's 100 Cars for Good help move
real people, supplies and animals in ways that make our communities
stronger and brighter," said Michael
Rouse, vice president of diversity, philanthropy and
community affairs for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. "This year's finalists represent
a wide range of geographies, missions and populations, and Toyota
is pleased to involve the public in selecting which of these
projects resonate and inspire the most to win a vehicle."
In Albuquerque, N.M., founder
Elke Duerr of the Web of Life
Foundation, a 2012 program winner, packs their Prius v with
educational materials, film equipment, and even camping gear, to
support the protection of local wildlife through its community
outreach programs. She and volunteers have driven more than 12,000
miles since receiving the hybrid last October. The organization
currently is creating films and teaching tools about the threatened
American Bison, and Duerr travels between the animals' natural
habitat and the many classrooms and festivals where she shares
their stories.
"The Prius v had the advantages of size and gas mileage
and was the single most important thing we needed for our work,"
Duerr said. "We now set a great example of an environmental
organization that walks its talk and reduces its carbon footprint
by driving a hybrid car while doing outreach work."
Over the last 20 years, Toyota has contributed nearly
$700 million to nonprofits throughout
the U.S., with core priorities on safety, education and the
environment. For a full list of rules and to learn more about 100
Cars for Good, visit www.100carsforgood.com.
About Toyota
Toyota, the world's top automaker and
creator of the Prius, is committed to building vehicles for the way
people live through our Toyota, Lexus and Scion
brands. Over the past 50 years, we've built more than 25
million cars and trucks in North
America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants and
directly employ nearly 40,000 people. Our 1,800 North
American dealerships sold more than 2.3 million cars and trucks in
2012 – and about 80% of all Toyotas sold over the past 20 years are
still on the road today. (NYSE:TM) For more information
about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.
Toyota partners with a wide variety of organizations across the
country, with a focus on education, safety and the
environment. As part of this commitment, we share the
company's extensive know-how from building great cars and trucks to
help community organizations and other nonprofits expand their
ability to do good. (NYSE:TM) For more information
about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.
To date, Toyota has contributed more than $700 million to American nonprofit groups.
For more information about Toyota's contributions in the U.S.,
visit www.toyotainaction.com.
About Toyota Financial Services (TFS)
Toyota Financial Services (TFS) is the finance and insurance
brand for Toyota and Lexus in the U.S., offering retail auto
financing and leasing through Toyota Motor Credit Corporation
(TMCC) and Toyota Lease Trust and extended service contracts and
other payment protection products through Toyota Motor Insurance
Services (TMIS). TFS employs 3,300 associates nationwide, and has
managed assets totaling more than $91
billion. It is part of a worldwide network of comprehensive
financial services offered by Toyota Financial Services
Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor
Corporation.
Media Contact:
Rebecca
Lee
GolinHarris for
Toyota
213-438-8827
rlee@golinharris.com
SOURCE Toyota