TORRANCE, Calif., March 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Nine
nonprofits ready to serve their communities will gather today to
celebrate the 2013 100 Cars for Good philanthropy program. The
charities will use their nine vehicles (seven Siennas and two
Tundras) won through the program's public voting to transport
people, food and even musical instruments. Those same instruments
will help veterans and at-risk youth find confidence and friendship
through music education and performances, thanks to The Rock Club
and Rock for Vets.
"These individuals are all struggling, but when you put them
together, it's something amazing," said Frank McIlquham, founder and director of The
Rock Club and Rock for Vets. "To win the Sienna is an honor and a
one-in-a-million opportunity. We can move equipment, reach more
people and perform further away – we can't wait to get
started."
The nine organizations at Toyota's headquarters today will
showcase a slice of the many diverse causes selected by online
voters every day between Oct. 1 and Nov.
19.
- A New Way of Life (Los
Angeles): A re-entry program for formerly incarcerated women
in South Central LA to support successful transitions back to the
community (Sienna).
- Green Vets Los Angeles (Calabasas,
Calif.): A vocational rehabilitation program that provides
job training for veterans (Sienna).
- Honoring Our Fallen (Cypress,
Calif.): An organization that provides direct support to
families of fallen military members (Sienna).
- House of Ruth (Pomona, Calif.)
A group that assists families victimized by domestic violence
(Sienna).
- Mojave Desert Animal Rescue (Apple
Valley, Calif.): A pet food bank and resource center for
homeless pet owners (Tundra).
- New Directions for Veterans (Los
Angeles): A resource organization for veterans and their
families (Sienna).
- Operation Gratitude (Van Nuys,
Calif.): A group that sends care packages to military
members, their families, veterans, caregivers and first responders
(Tundra).
- Santa Clarita Valley Committee on Aging (Santa Clarita, Calif.): A senior center that
provides meals, transportation and other assistance (Sienna).
- The Rock Club and Rock For Vets (Signal Hill, Calif.): A musical education
group for at-risk kids and veterans (Sienna).
Winning nonprofits chose among the Toyota Highlander, Prius,
Sienna, Sienna Mobility or Tundra, which come with a six-year,
100,000-mile powertrain warranty from Toyota Financial Services. To
see the full list of winners, visit www.100carsforgood.com.
For Los Angeles-based A New Way
of Life, passengers in the new Sienna will include women recently
released from prison headed to a safe home, appointments and
interviews to build new, productive lives.
"On behalf of A New Way of Life Reentry Project and the women we
serve, I am so pleased to receive a Sienna to transport our women
and children comfortably and safely," said Susan Burton, founder and director. "Toyota 100
Cars for Good, thank you for making this possible, and thank you to
all those who were inspired enough by our mission to vote for
us."
Hundreds of Toyota associates will attend today's event, along
with Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.,
Inc. (TMS) CEO and President Kazuo
Ohara. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet and learn
about the local charities and are encouraged to get involved with
causes that move them.
"Meeting these inspiring organizations brings to life the real
impact these Toyota vehicles will have in communities right in our
own backyard," said Michael Rouse,
vice president of diversity, philanthropy and community affairs for
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
"We are proud that 100 Cars for Good will help these community
leaders and the other 91 winning nonprofits around the country
reach new heights. There's no better way to finish off the third
year of this successful philanthropy program."
Since 100 Cars for Good began in 2011, Toyota has provided 300
vehicles to voter-selected organizations and nearly $1 million to the 950 organizations who were
runners-up. To learn more about 100 Cars for Good, visit
www.100carsforgood.com.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM), 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 (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than
40,000 people (more than 32,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North
American dealerships (1,500 in the U.S.) sold more than 2.5 million
cars and trucks (more than 2.2 million in the U.S.) in 2013 – and
about 80 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 20 years
are still on the road today.
Toyota partners with philanthropic 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 garnered from building great cars and
trucks to help community organizations and other nonprofits expand
their ability to do good. For more information about Toyota, visit
www.toyotanewsroom.com.
About Toyota Financial Services (TFS)
Toyota Financial Services (TFS) is the finance and insurance
brand for Toyota and Lexus in North America. The TFS
affiliate in the United States
offers retail auto financing and leasing through Toyota Motor
Credit Corporation and Toyota Lease Trust and extended service
contracts and other payment protection products through Toyota
Motor Insurance Services. The Canadian affiliate serves the
same need in Canada. TFS employs over 3,300 associates in
North America and has managed
assets totaling more than $91
billion. TFS is part of a worldwide network of
comprehensive financial services offered by Toyota Financial
Services Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor
Corporation.
For more information about TFS in the
United States, visit www.toyotafinancial.com. For
information more about TFS in Canada, visit www.toyota.ca and click on
"Company Information" to access the TFS site.
Media Contact:
Rebecca
Lee
GolinHarris for
Toyota
213-438-8827
rlee@golinharris.com
SOURCE Toyota