April 28, 2008 - Washington, D.C. - Toyota today announced a $5 million
contribution in support of five National Parks and the National Park Foundation
to enhance environmental leadership and educational programs at parks around the
country. The company also will donate 23 vehicles to the National Parks.
Some of the funds may be used by the local fundraising partners such as
Everglades National Parks for matching Federal funds as part of the National
Park Centennial Challenge program highlighting the 100th anniversary of the
National Park Service in 2016.
"For more than a century, the National Parks have been a treasure across the
United States," said Dian Ogilvie, senior vice president of Toyota Motor North
America. "We are proud to support these excellent programs for young people at
the National Parks that are helping to develop the environmental leaders of
tomorrow."
The one-time $5 million grant will support environmental education programs
of U.S. National Parks through national park friends groups and fundraising
partners, including:
• Everglades National Park (Florida) through the South Florida National Parks
Trust;
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina, Tennessee)
through the Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park;
• Yellowstone
National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho) through the Yellowstone Park
Foundation;
• Yosemite National Park (California) through the Yosemite
Fund;
• Grand Canyon (Arizona) through the Grand Canyon National Park
Foundation;
• Multiple national parks through the National Park
Foundation;
• Many of the parks also will receive Toyota vehicles to support
the programs.
The parks were chosen for their environmental educational programs and
dedication to developing environmental stewards. These programs serve children
and teachers by enhancing environmental science education and include day-use
and camp scholarships for inner-city and Native American communities; bilingual
Junior Ranger programs; and the University of California intern program designed
to cultivate new leadership for the National Park Service.
"Toyota's philanthropic support of National Parks is an excellent match for
the goals we're working to accomplish," said Paul A. Zambernardi, Executive
Director of the Yellowstone Park Foundation. "These grants will allow
Yellowstone and the other parks to do so much more for education in the National
Parks."
The contributions build on Toyota's longstanding support of
volunteerism, environmental leadership and national public lands and parks.
Toyota has been a supporter of "Take Pride in America," a national partnership
program of the US Department of the Interior aimed at increasing volunteer
service on America's public lands.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United
States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants, with another
under construction in Mississippi. Toyota is committed to being a good corporate
citizen in the communities where it does business and believes in supporting
programs with long-term sustainable results. Through its corporate initiatives,
manufacturing operations and philanthropy, Toyota supports numerous
organizations across the country, focusing on education, the environment and
safety. In 2007, Toyota contributed more than $56 million to philanthropic
programs in the U.S. For more information on Toyota's commitment to improving
communities nationwide, visit www.toyota.com/community.