Local Schools, Nonprofits, Community Partners
to Empower Students to Succeed
GREENSBORO, N.C., April 2,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota USA Foundation today announced grants totaling
$2 million for programs to help
prepare students in Randolph and
Guilford Counties for future
science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers. The grants and collaboration
are part of the Driving Possibilities initiative and represent a
five-year phased rollout of programming in select
schools.
Driving Possibilities focuses on PreK-12 education to
provide students with access to rewarding careers, including
opportunities in the auto industry. The long-term initiative aims
to close educational gaps for students through innovative, hands-on
STEM programming while addressing
the essential needs of students and families.
"Our goal is to increase awareness of future STEM careers while helping build sustainable
programs in the communities where our team members live and work,"
said Tellis Bethel, group vice
president of social innovation at Toyota. "With $2 million in the first year, we are excited to
expand Driving Possibilities here in North Carolina, home to our first battery
plant in North America."
Driving Possibilities in North Carolina centers on working
with Randolph and Guilford County schools to
identify school feeder patterns and provide project-based,
hands-on STEM learning programs.
In addition, the program will include professional and leadership
development for educators, community engagement and family support
like afterschool programming - all core components of the Driving
Possibilities model.
"The Driving Possibilities framework provides a holistic
approach to ensure all children have equal access to opportunities
and a pathway to high-growth careers," said Sean Suggs, president of Toyota North Carolina.
"In collaboration with community partners and businesses, we are
focusing resources inside and outside the classroom to help
students overcome barriers."
"We are excited for Toyota's partnership and investment in
communities across North
Carolina," said North
Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.
"These grants will help enhance the STEM education of students in Randolph and Guilford counties and prepare them to lead
successful careers in a variety fields, including our state's
thriving auto industry."
In 2022, the Toyota USA
Foundation announced Driving Possibilities, a national, career
readiness and community engagement initiative, launched to prepare
youth for the careers of tomorrow. It is a unique approach that
brings together educators, local and national nonprofits, and
communities to create limitless possibilities for all. With efforts
across the PreK-12 education continuum, the program is the largest
and most comprehensive in Toyota's history. The initiative is
funded by the Toyota USA
Foundation, Toyota Motor North America (TMNA), and Toyota Financial
Services (TFS).
North Carolina is the seventh
site to launch programming based on more than 60 years of active
support in communities across the U.S. and builds off the
successful model in West Dallas.
ADDITIONAL QUOTES
Senator Phil Berger
"Driving Possibilities is an incredible opportunity for students in
Guilford and Randolph counties to enter the STEM fields. Initiatives like this will help
establish a homegrown talent pipeline and ensure our students are
ready to pursue the high-tech jobs Toyota is creating in
North Carolina."
Representative Tim
Moore
"Thanks to a rapidly evolving job market and
the increasing number of businesses flocking to North Carolina, it has become imperative to
equip our youth with the skills and mindset necessary to thrive in
the careers of tomorrow. I applaud Toyota's vision of empowering
young individuals to navigate the complexities of the modern
workplace. The best investment we can make is in the potential of
our youth. Toyota's Driving Possibilities program will equip young
North Carolinians with the skills, knowledge, and values they need
to shape a brighter tomorrow for themselves and society as a
whole."
Stephen Gainey, Randolph County Schools Superintendent
"The Randolph County School System is excited about the opportunity
to enter into a partnership with Toyota focused on 'Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Education.' Without a doubt, this
opportunity will be great for our students through its provision of
hands-on and problem-based learning experiences. I look forward to
the future as this partnership between the Randolph County School
System and Toyota grows and creates special educational
opportunities for our students. Our school system continues to
receive a high level of support from numerous community partners.
Thus, I am very excited to add Toyota to our group of community
partners."
Whitney Oakley,
Superintendent, Guilford County
Schools
"We are thrilled to join Toyota in building career
pathways for our students. Toyota's Driving Possibilities program
will build our students' capacity to thrive in STEM-related careers and, by growing a
qualified workforce locally, will help boost our economy. I hope
this partnership inspires other businesses and government officials
to make the necessary investments to make North Carolina the number one state for
education so all North Carolinians can participate and reap the
benefits of a global economy."
About Toyota USA
Foundation
The Toyota USA Foundation is a
charitable endowment created to support education programs serving
kindergarten through 12th-grade students and their teachers in
the United States, with an
emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and math
(STEM). For more information about
the Toyota USA Foundation,
visit https://toyotaeffect.com/impact/.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in
North America for more than 65
years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation
mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than
1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the
design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 47 million cars and
trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota's 14th plant
in North Carolina will begin to
manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With
more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker,
Toyota currently offers 27 electrified options.
For more information about Toyota, visit
www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
Media Contact:
Emily Holland
662-507-5148
emily.holland@toyota.com
Amanda Roark
310-291-5002
amanda.roark@toyota.com
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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America