Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. today
announced donations valued at more than $5 million to four Southeast Washington
non-profit initiatives. All are linked by a common purpose - Education.
The multi-year donations will support 1) the restocking of the libraries of
each of the 43 public elementary schools in Southeast Washington, 2) the establishment
of a family literacy program, 3) an existing high school automotive training
program, and 4) vocational and pre-vocational programs.
"Our original plans called for funding a single DC-area automotive training
center," said Irv Miller, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. group vice president.
"But as we came to know the city, we realized that we could have a much
broader impact by rethinking the focus of our giving and casting our net a little
wider."
Over the next three years, Toyota will provide 43,000 books, a thousand to
each of the 43 public elementary schools in Southeast, at a cost of $1.3 million.
As a result of this program, approximately 15,000 children in Southeast DC will
have ready access to new high quality books from a list to be developed by officials
of the D.C. Public Schools. The restocking program will be administered by Barbara
Skinner of the Skinner Leadership Institute and the Jewish Federation of Greater
Washington, in partnership with the Washington DC Jewish Community Center, (DCJCC).
The initiative, fashioned after a similar Toyota-sponsored program administered
by the Jewish Federation in Los Angeles, addresses the growing need for additional
library books throughout the District.
The National Center for Family Literacy will receive $1.3 million over ten
years to establish a family literacy program in Southeast Washington. Also addressing
work and parenting skills, this initiative will serve 100 families a year and
is modeled after similar programs Toyota has supported elsewhere over the last
12 years.
Ballou High School will receive $1,500,000 over the next 10 years to support
its automotive training program. The funding is earmarked for needs such as
high-tech diagnostic equipment, computer equipment, toolboxes, and automotive
components. This support will help Ballou maintain its affiliation with Automotive
Youth Educational Systems (AYES), a not-for-profit organization that trains
and develops students for retail automotive service careers. AYES is supported
by automobile manufacturers, dealers and high schools.
Toyota will also contribute $1,000,000 to Washington DC's Opportunities Industrialization
Center (OIC), which implements comprehensive pre-vocational and vocational programs.
The funding will be used for the organization's capital campaign and operating
budget.
"I am delighted by the contributions that Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. is
making to our city," said Washington DC Mayor Anthony A. Williams. "The
company's contributions to our public school libraries and to Ballou's automotive
training program demonstrate Toyota's extraordinary commitment to improving
the lives of children and families in the District. We are delighted to have
Toyota as a community partner."
About Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS):
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer
service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion in the United States, marketing products
and services through a network of 1,415 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers in 49
states. Established in 1957, TMS and its subsidiaries also are involved in distribution
logistics, motor sports, R&D and general aviation. The company's main website
is http://www.toyota.com.
