PLANO, Texas, Aug. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota Motor
North America (TMNA) is partnering with Toyota Financial Services
(TFS), The Friedkin Group, Gulf States Toyota (GST) and Toyota and
Lexus dealers nationwide, to provide a combined relief effort of
over $3 million to serve the people
impacted by Hurricane Harvey. The group's relief efforts include
funds to organizations such as the St. Bernard Project and American
Red Cross, matching contributions, in-kind donations, volunteerism,
and the donation of pre-owned vehicles.
"As fellow Texans, our hearts go out to those who have lost so
much and we would like to extend a helping hand to help with the
recovery," said Jim Lentz, CEO of
Toyota Motor North America. "At Toyota, we have a comprehensive
approach to disaster relief, working with numerous organizations to
provide help where it's needed."
Dan Friedkin, chairman of GST,
has established the Friedkin Disaster Relief Fund and
has guaranteed at least $1 million in
funding from the Friedkin Family. The Friedkin Group and GST will
support Toyota and Lexus dealers, their associates as well as
individuals across the region recovering from the hurricane. To
make a donation, please go to: www.friedkinrelieffund.com.
"Many people's lives will never be the same after Hurricane
Harvey and the recovery process will require as much assistance as
possible," said Friedkin. "This community is our home, and it's
important for us to do whatever possible to ensure that our
associates, dealers and anyone impacted by the storm have the
support and resources to bounce back during this difficult
time."
Today, TFS and Lexus Financial Services (LFS) announced the
donation of pre-owned Toyota and Lexus cars, SUVs, and trucks to
organizations involved in helping move people and property in the
recovery efforts.
"Access to reliable means of transportation is a critical
element to any disaster relief and recovery effort," said
Mike Groff, president and CEO of
Toyota Financial Services. "We hope that our donated vehicles will
help meet the needs of those affected by Hurricane Harvey."
Toyota is working in a variety of ways to reach the greatest
number of people affected by the storm, summarized below:
- American Red Cross – As a National Responder annual
contributor, Toyota supports Red Cross' ongoing disaster relief
efforts across the country, including the Texas coastal region. These efforts include
helping secure necessities like food, clothing, prescriptions,
etc.
- St. Bernard Project (SBP) – Provides disaster resilience
training and rebuilding in disaster communities, and are currently
deploying people in South Texas.
Some of the services they provide include: helping victims to
negotiate Federal dollars and relief, avoid contractor fraud, and
education on mold remediation. In the long-term, they will deploy
volunteers and AmeriCorps to rebuild homes at a lower cost. With
the implementation of the Toyota Production System, their teams
build faster and more cost effectively. SBP's goal is to help build
the capacity of local agencies, non-profits and government by
sharing best practices and lessons learned to speed recovery
efforts. Toyota will provide an additional donation of $1 million to this project for Hurricane
Harvey.
- TFS/LFS Payment Relief Program – TFS/LFS is offering a
payment relief program for its customers affected by Hurricane
Harvey. The program's broad outreach includes any TFS or LFS
customer in the designated disaster areas. Impacted lease and
finance customers residing in the devastated areas may be eligible
to take advantage of several payment options, such as extensions
and lease deferred payments, redirecting billing statements, and
arranging phone or on-line payments. Customers who would like to
discuss their account options are encouraged to contact TFS or
LFS:
-
- TFS: (800) 874-8822; email using "Mail Center" function after
logging into ToyotaFinancial.com
- LFS: (800) 874-7050; email using "Mail Center" function after
logging into LexusFinancial.com
- TFS/LFS Vehicle Donations – Pre-owned Toyota and Lexus
vehicles will be made available to help move people and property as
part of the recovery efforts.
- TMNA/Friedkin Group Dealer Match Program – For Toyota
and Lexus dealers who want to contribute to The Friedkin Group
Relief Fund, TMNA has set aside up to $250,000 to match Toyota/Lexus dealer
contributions.
- TMNA Dealer Match Program – For Toyota and Lexus dealers
who want to contribute to relief efforts and charitable
organizations of their choice tied to Hurricane Harvey, TMNA will
match their contribution up to $10,000.
- Toyota Team Member Contributions – Toyota will match all
team member contributions throughout the U.S. in support of
disaster relief.
- Evacuee shelters in Dallas – TMNA and TFS is exploring how to
engage its Plano-based team
members to meet the needs of evacuees – such as clothing,
toiletries and/or volunteer support at locations like the Kay
Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas, Texas.
- Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas – While not in the
heart of the storm, the San
Antonio area sustained high winds and drenching rains from
the outer edge of the tropical storm after it made landfall. Team
Members at the manufacturing plant are organizing to volunteer in
the local community, blood drives, and provide in-kind donations to
displaced people.
About The Friedkin Group
The Friedkin Group is comprised of a consortium of automotive,
hospitality, entertainment, golf and adventure companies. These
organizations include: Gulf States Toyota, GSFSGroup, GS Marketing,
US AutoLogistics, Ascent Automotive Group, Auberge Resorts
Collection, Imperative Entertainment, Diamond Creek Golf Club,
Congaree and Legendary Adventures. The Friedkin Group is led by
Chairman and CEO Dan Friedkin.
About Gulf States Toyota
Houston-based Gulf States Toyota
is one of the world's largest independent distributors of Toyota
and Scion vehicles and parts, serving 157 dealers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. Gulf States Toyota
was founded in 1969.
About Toyota Financial Services
Toyota
Financial Services (TFS) is the finance and insurance brand for
Toyota in the United States,
offering retail auto financing and leasing through Toyota Motor
Credit Corporation (TMCC) and Toyota Lease Trust. TFS also offers
extended service contracts through Toyota Motor Insurance Services
(TMIS). The company services Lexus dealers and customers using the
Lexus Financial Services brand. TFS currently employs approximately
3,100 associates nationwide, and has assets totaling over
$119 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. We announce material financial
information using the investor relations section of our website
(www.toyotafinancial.com) and SEC filings. We use these channels,
press releases, and social media to communicate about our company,
our services and other issues. While not all information we post on
social media is of a material nature, some information could be
material. Therefore, we encourage those interested in our company
to review our posts on Twitter
at www.twitter.com/toyotafinancial.
Points of Light has named TFS one of its Civic 50, which
recognizes the most community-minded companies in the nation.
For more information about the company's support of financial
literacy, youth development programs, and other community
initiatives, please visit www.tfsinthecommunity.com.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S.
and North America for 60 years,
and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility
through our Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time, Toyota
has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have contributed
to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 33
million cars and trucks in North
America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants (10 in the
U.S.) and directly employ more than 46,000 people (more than 36,000
in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly
1,500 in the U.S.) sold almost 2.7 million cars and trucks (2.45
million in the U.S.) in 2016 – and about 85 percent of all Toyota
vehicles sold over the past 15 years are still on the road
today.
Toyota partners with community, civic, academic, and
governmental organizations to address our society's most pressing
mobility challenges. We share company resources and extensive
know-how to support non-profits to help expand their ability to
assist more people move more places. For more information about
Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
The Friedkin Group / Gulf States Toyota:
Katie Scallan
(713) 580-3356
Toyota Financial Services:
Vince Bray
(310) 468-5332
Toyota Motor North America:
Aaron Fowles
(469) 292-1097
Amanda Roark
(469) 292-2636
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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America