TORRANCE, Calif., Nov. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sometimes just a
simple wish can make a big difference in a child's life. The
Trenton, N.J. based organization,
One Simple Wish, which collects wish requests from foster kids and
at-risk children, has been named a winner in the third year of
Toyota's 100 Cars for Good philanthropic program.
Wishes granted by the organization include help purchasing a
school yearbook, tickets to the aquarium or a new bicycle.
Individuals can fulfill a wish online, and the organization hosts
"wish parties" around the country to deliver donated items to
groups of kids.
"Sometimes there would be a large donation like 50 pairs of PJs,
but we struggled to find the capacity to pick them up," said
Danielle Gletow, One Simple Wish
founder and director, who is currently a 2013 Top 10 CNN Hero.
"We've had amazing success with the organization, but a car was the
one thing we couldn't raise enough money for. Having this new
vehicle will keep dollars going toward letting kids be kids."
One Simple Wish selected a Toyota
Highlander as its new vehicle, which will ease the burden on staff
members who had been using their personal vehicles for pick-ups,
partner visits and events, travelling more than 12,000 miles last
year.
Another 2013 winner is the Brookeville, Md., based Warrior Canine
Connection, which works with returning combat veterans to help
train and socialize puppies, as part of a therapeutic program for
PTSD and other psychological injuries. Disabled veterans benefit
from the fully trained service dogs that will live alongside them.
A new Sienna minivan will soon transport animals, staff and
veterans throughout the D.C. area.
"One of the biggest things we find with recovering veterans is
isolation and a hesitancy for some of them to leave the barracks at
all," said Molly Morelli, director
of dog programs at Warrior Canine Connection. "By bringing the dogs
out into the community and helping veterans come to us, we have an
incredible opportunity to reach more people and serve."
More 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations like Warrior Canine
Connection and One Simple Wish hope to benefit from new Toyota
vehicles as voting continues at www.100carsforgood.com through Nov.
19. Each day, five finalists representing a variety of worthy
causes are eligible for public votes.
The top two 100 Cars for Good winners every day have a choice
among the 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. The remaining
three organizations every day will receive $1,000 grants from Toyota to continue their good
work in local communities. Represented causes span from a camp for
kids with life-threatening illnesses to an organization helping the
elderly safely remain in their homes.
"It's a wonderful feeling to begin hearing from our winners
about plans to expand their impact and reach with a new vehicle,"
said Michael Rouse, vice president
of diversity, philanthropy and community affairs for Toyota Motor
Sales, U.S.A., Inc. "Voting is
still open, so find a cause that speaks to you and your community
and vote!"
Voting continues now through Nov.
19 at 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