PLANO, Texas, May 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Amid growing
demand for emergency relief as a result of COVID-19, the Toyota
USA Foundation awarded
$2.5 million in grants to a variety
of nonprofits across the nation. Funds address crucial needs -
particularly food assistance - in urban hot spots and in many
communities where Toyota operates, as well as e-learning programs
to help keep youth engaged.
"We pivoted our foundation's focus from STEM education to
support the surge in demand for food assistance across the
country," said Mike Goss, Toyota
USA Foundation president. "As we
head into summer, and looking beyond, we also recognized the need
to support a variety of e-learning programs with resources to
expand access, engage youth and parents, and assist teachers."
To date, including the above grants, Toyota has provided more
than $8 million in funding and
in-kind donations, including manufacturing and donating over
500,000 protective face shields for healthcare professionals.
"Along with contributing funding, team members are sharing their
amazing spirit and expertise to help with relief efforts," said
Chris Reynolds, chief administrative
officer, Manufacturing and Corporate Resources for Toyota Motor
North America. "Scaling up the work of nonprofits across the
country and helping bring awareness and credible information to
understand the risks and share steps on how to avoid contracting
the virus is critical to meeting increased needs throughout the
country."
Community service announcements for the African American and
Hispanic communities are available by clicking here. To learn more
about Toyota's COVID-19 response efforts click here.
Toyota USA Foundation grants
include:
National Grants ($1.2
million)
Toyota USA Foundation grants
support emergency relief efforts, particularly for multicultural
communities in urban hotspots including, but not limited to,
Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Los
Angeles, New Orleans and
New York City. Grants were awarded to:
- The Salvation Army $700,000
- United Way $500,000 (This is in
addition to the previous $500,000
awarded to United Way in March)
"Toyota's generous donation will provide much-needed
relief for those suffering from food insecurity, financial
hardship and other effects from the economic disruption caused by
the COVID-19 pandemic," said Stan
Little, Chief Experience Officer for United Way
Worldwide.
Grants in Toyota Operating Communities ($800,000)
Toyota USA Foundation grants
address hunger in Toyota's operational communities in 12 states.
Grants include:
- Food Bank of North Alabama,
Huntsville, Alabama, $55,000
- United Food Bank, Mesa,
Arizona, $55,000
- Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP), Hiawatha, Iowa, $55,000
- Tri-State Food Bank Evansville,
Indiana, $55,000
- God's Pantry Food Bank, Lexington,
Kentucky, $55,000
- Maryland Food Bank, Baltimore,
Maryland, $55,000
- Food Gatherers in Ann Arbor,
Michigan, $40,000
- Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels, Ypsilanti,
Michigan, $25,000
- Bread For Life, Troy,
Missouri, $30,000
- Lincoln County Council on Aging, Troy, Missouri $25,000
- Grow North Texas in
Dallas, Texas $55,000
- North Texas Food Bank, Plano,
Texas $65,000
- VNA Texas Meals on Wheels, Dallas,
Texas $30,000
- San Antonio Food Bank, San Antonio,
Texas $55,000
- Mid-South Food Bank, Memphis,
Tennessee, $55,000
- Regional Inter-Faith Association (RIFA), Jackson, Tennessee, $55,000
- Five Loaves Two Fish Food Pantry, Welch, West Virginia, $55,000
"Mid-South Food Bank has seen a 207 percent increase in need
throughout our service area," said," Cathy
Pope, President & CEO, Mid-South Food Bank. "The clients
before COVID-19 still need us, and people who never dreamed they
would need the food bank find themselves really struggling to put
food on the table. We are working to meet this increased need
over the next six to 12 months as families recover."
Along with a mobile food pantry launched by Toyota Mississippi
and Mid-South Food Bank, Toyota also worked Dallas Area Rapid
Transit, Grow North Texas, University of North
Texas at Dallas Mobile Market, Veggie Project, and Lonestar
Human Services to distribute produce and hygiene packs to families
in need in the DFW region.
E-learning Grants
The Toyota USA Foundation
also funded:
- Girls Who Code for its new online program – Girls Who Code at
Home – and to support video-based activities, $125,000
- Code.org to expand K-12 computer science education in the DFW
region by training teachers with its all-new virtual learning
program that combines asynchronous learning combined with
synchronous, facilitator-led virtual sessions, $125,000
- Science Buddies to create a free online tool for learners to
discover STEM pathways and careers, $200,000
- SkillsUSA to expand complementary access to its signature
online program -- Career Essentials -- to more than 830 students:
$50,000
"Our free hands-on STEM activities, which are shorter and
typically use materials easily found around a home, make STEM
learning more accessible to a variety of diverse audiences," said
Tina Lanese, senior vice president,
Science Buddies. "Through this grant we will be able to build on
these activities to help learners discover pathways to STEM careers
as they engage in activities during this period, into the summer
and beyond."
For more information on Toyota's COVID-19 response, please
visit: www.toyota.com/toyota-covid-19-response/ (English)
www.toyota.com/espanol/toyota-covid-19-response/ (Spanish)
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of
the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North
America for more than 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 40 million cars and
trucks in North America, where we
have 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in
Alabama (10 in the U.S.), and
directly employ more than 47,000 people (over 36,000 in the
U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in
the U.S.) sold 2.7 million cars and trucks (2.4 million in the
U.S.) in 2019.
The Toyota USA Foundation
supports innovative programs and builds partnerships with
organizations that are dedicated to improving the teaching and
learning of science, technology, engineering and
mathematics.
Media Contacts
Kelly Stefanich
469-292-5230
kelly.stefanich@toyota.com
Victor Vanov
859-801-2592
victor.vanov@toyota.com
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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America