Boys & Girls Clubs of America Honors Toyota Financial Services, Charles Schwab Foundation, and the Deerbrook Charitable Trust With Prestigious Philanthropy Awards

NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) will honor three major supporters with its prestigious Philanthropy Awards at the youth organization's Board of Governors Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria this evening.  Toyota Financial Services, Charles Schwab Foundation, and the Deerbrook Charitable Trust will each be recognized for their long-standing, generous support of BGCA's mission to help young people achieve great futures.

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"To save and change the lives of millions of youth most in need, Boys & Girls Clubs of America relies on the generosity and commitment of caring donors from every sector and industry.  You could not find a better complement of great partners than Toyota, Schwab and Deerbrook," said Boys & Girls Clubs of America President & CEO Jim Clark.  "We are honored to have each of them as long-time friends, who have invested significantly in our Great Futures Campaign to give every young person we serve a pathway to success as contributing citizens and leaders."

Corporate Philanthropy Award: Toyota Financial Services

When Boys & Girls Clubs of America identified academic success as the cornerstone of its Great Futures Impact Plan, Toyota Financial Services stepped up immediately to support the organization's transitional education initiative – Diplomas to Degrees (d2D).  Research shows that particularly among at-risk youth, an increasing number of high school graduates are ill-equipped to make the challenging transition to college – both academically and socially.  Diplomas to Degrees includes a teen-friendly college guide with high-yield learning activities, plus college campus visits, helping Club members to better understand the admissions process.  In addition, d2D is available 24/7 with content posted on BGCA's teen website, www.myclubmylife.com.

Toyota's support for BGCA extends back more than a decade, including the engagement of associates as volunteers in local Clubs.  Most recently, Toyota has become a generous supporter of BGCA's Youth of the Year program, offering academic scholarships at both the state and regional levels. 

The Corporate Philanthropy Award will be accepted on behalf of Toyota Financial Services by the head of the company's Customer Service Center in Maryland, John Ridgeway, and Regional Manager, Dave Brennan. Presenting the award on behalf of BGCA will be Helena Foulkes, EVP & Chief Health Care Strategy and Marketing Officer for CVS Caremark, and a member of BGCA's Board of Governors.

Foundation Philanthropy Award: Charles Schwab Foundation

The visionary thinking of Charles Schwab Foundation President Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz some 10 years ago led to the development of the successful financial literacy program for teens – Money Matters: Make It Count^SM.  Proven highly effective and engaging, Money Matters has provided some 400,000 teen Club members in more than 1,700 Clubs with invaluable knowledge and skills.  In 2011 alone, more than 75,000 teens completed the program, so it was no surprise to learn that Money Matters is the program of choice among 65 percent of teen-serving Clubs.

Moreover, since 2004, Charles Schwab Foundation has presented $435,000 in college scholarships to Club teens demonstrating proof of their newly-acquired financial literacy skills.  In 2008, the Foundation added a Money Matters Ambassador program to provide Club teens with a peer role model and spokesperson for financial responsibility.

The award will be accepted by Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz.  Presenting the award on behalf of BGCA will be Robbie Bach, former President of the Entertainment & Devices Division of Microsoft, and a member of BGCA's Board of Governors.

Great Futures Award: the Deerbrook Charitable Trust

The inaugural Great Futures Award will be presented to the Deerbrook Charitable Trust, which represents the legendary philanthropic generosity of the family of Hays and Ros Clark. This award recognizes an entity or individual who has made unparalleled contributions to furthering BGCA's Great Futures Impact Plan – committed to transforming the lives of an entire generation of young people.

The Deerbrook Charitable Trust's longtime, deeply-rooted relationship with Boys & Girls Clubs has resulted in truly generation-changing programs.  Deerbrook has invested significantly in BGCA's efforts to build the capacity of local Clubs so more children can be served, producing greater impact in local communities where the needs are greatest.

The Deerbrook Charitable Trust has funded Impact Teams, which provide specialized expertise and training for local Clubs that request assistance.  In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Trust provided support to help restore devastated Club facilities.

In 2012, The Deerbrook Charitable Trust made an unprecedented gift to help dramatically launch BGCA's Great Futures Campaign, totaling $12 million.  This will enable the national organization to launch a major training initiative for local Clubs, with the goal of doubling the amount of individual giving across the entire Boys & Girls Clubs network by 2017. 

The award will be accepted by the President of the Deerbrook Charitable Trust, Val McNeely.  Presenting the award on behalf of BGCA will be Rick Goings, Chairman and CEO of Tupperware Brands Corporation, and a member of BGCA's Board of Governors.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, nearly 4,000 Clubs serve some 4 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native American lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Club programs promote academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at http://bgca.org/facebook and http://bgca.org/twitter.

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 Toyota Lease Trust 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 $91.7 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 Charles Schwab Foundation

Charles Schwab Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization funded by The Charles Schwab Corporation.  Its mission is to create positive change through financial education, philanthropy, and volunteerism.  More information is available at www.aboutschwab.com/community.  Charles Schwab Foundation is classified by the IRS as a charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  The Foundation is neither a part of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (member SIPC) nor its parent company, The Charles Schwab Corporation.

About The Deerbrook Charitable Trust

The Deerbrook Charitable Trust is a private foundation established in 2006 by the late Hays Clark.  Mr. Clark had a keen interest in assisting others, especially children and youth so that they might have opportunities for more secure futures.  The Trust supports selected local, regional, and national organizations in the United States serving children, youth, and families, with a focus on organizations committed to improving and increasing effectiveness in delivering services to alleviate critical shortages of healthcare providers, non-profit management, and other areas identified by the trustees. For more information, visit www.deerbrooktrust.org.

SOURCE Boys & Girls Clubs of America