Toyota 100 Cars for Good Program Delivers First Cars to Winning Organizations

TORRANCE, Calif., Aug. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting today, Toyota will deliver the first three vehicles to winners of its “100 Cars for Good” program. 100 Cars for Good is a major new philanthropic program from Toyota that is awarding 100 vehicles to 100 nonprofit organizations over the course of 100 days, based on votes from the public.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110815/LA51732-a)

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110815/LA51732-b)

Today, Toyota kicks off the vehicle deliveries by awarding a Toyota Sienna minivan to representatives of the Community Soup Kitchen and Outreach Center at the organization's location in Morristown, New Jersey.  Representatives of the Toyota of Morristown dealership will join Toyota Motor North America President Yoshimi Inaba at the event to celebrate the delivery.  The Community Soup Kitchen and Outreach Center works to help the homeless, working poor and elderly of Morristown and surrounding communities by serving meals and providing supportive services 365 days a year. The Toyota Sienna will enable the organization to pick up even more food donations and feed a greater number of people.

Tomorrow, August 16, the Laura Recovery Center for Missing Children in Friendswood, Texas will receive its Toyota Prius at the Toyota Center in Houston.  Representatives from Ron Carter Toyota in Alvin, Texas will join Jim Lentz, president of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., to make the delivery on the company's behalf.  The Laura Recovery Center works to prevent child abductions and runaways and to recover missing children by creating closer partnerships among law enforcement, the community and families.  Having a Toyota Prius will allow the Center to expand its educational outreach program, Safe Kids Are Taught Early (SKATE), to more local schools to further decrease risk of child abduction.  

Toyota will cap the first vehicle deliveries on Wednesday, August 17, when it delivers a Highlander Hybrid SUV  to Sol Collective at the Maita Toyota dealership in Sacramento, California.  Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. will join representatives from Maita Toyota to make the delivery.  Sol Collective is a community-based partnership that aims to use art, education and technology to empower community residents.  The organization will use the Highlander to conduct further outreach into Sacramento's neighborhoods.

The 100 Cars for Good contest launched in March 2011 with more than 3,000 applicants entering for a chance to win a new Toyota. Applications were reduced down to 500 finalists by an independent panel of judges. The finalists submitted online profiles to rally their friends and supporters and encourage voting on the Toyota USA Facebook page, with five finalists up for consideration by the public each day.

Winning organizations were able to choose from the following vehicles:  Toyota Prius, Tacoma, Tundra, Highlander Hybrid, Sienna or Sienna Mobility.  The vehicles come with a six-year, 100,000-mile Vehicle Service Agreement to provide extended protection beyond the vehicle warranty, compliments of Toyota Financial Services or Gulf States Financial Services.  Runners-up each received a $1,000 donation.

The Toyota 100 Cars for Good Program enables the 100 organizations to receive a Toyota vehicle to make a greater impact on the community.  Winners spanned several categories including human services, health and safety, supporting veterans, animal welfare and protecting victims of abuse.

For a complete list of 100 Cars for Good finalists, please visit www.facebook.com/toyota.

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"While we have a history of giving to nonprofit programs, 100 Cars for Good is the first Toyota initiative to put the public in the driver's seat of one of our major philanthropic efforts," said Toyota Motor North America President and Chief Operating Officer Yoshimi Inaba. "It's an honor for Toyota to contribute to the work of 100 great organizations, which are providing valuable and much-needed services to our communities. They are an inspiration for all of us in helping others."

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants, including one under construction.  Toyota directly employs nearly 30,000 in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $18 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design.

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. Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, focusing on education, the environment and safety. Since 1991, Toyota has contributed more than $500 million to philanthropic programs in the U.S.  

For more information on Toyota's commitment to improving communities nationwide, visit http://www.toyota.com/community.

About 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 extended service contracts through Toyota Motor Insurance Services (TMIS).  Lexus Financial Services is the brand for financial products for Lexus dealers and customers. TFS currently employs over 3,300 associates nationwide, and has managed assets totaling more than $87 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.  For more information, please visit www.toyotafinancial.com.

About Gulf States Toyota

Gulf States Toyota is an independent Toyota distributor based in Houston serving 154 dealer locations in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas.  The company introduced Toyota vehicles to the region in 1969.

Media Contact:
Kirsten Clausen
GolinHarris for Toyota
(213) 438-8726
[email protected]

SOURCE Toyota