Three Non-Profit Organizations to Receive Free Vehicles Courtesy of Toyota's "100 Cars For Good" National Program

LINCOLN, Neb., Sept. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The staff at Performance Toyota of Lincoln will be hosting a celebratory event at its dealership on Wednesday, September 28, when three local, non-profit organizations receive free vehicles courtesy of Toyota's "100 Cars For Good" national program.

The winning organizations include Lincoln-based Foodbank of Lincoln and Lighthouse, as well as Arbor Day Farm of Nebraska City.

Jim Colon, Vice President of Product Communications at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. will be on hand to present each organization with its new vehicle that day.  The ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday and the public is welcome to attend.

"Since we began delivering the vehicles to the winners about a month ago, we've never had a location host three recipients in such close proximity to each other," said Colon. "I think this speaks to the great work each organization is doing, plus the high degree of support they receive in their respective areas."

The much-publicized "100 Cars For Good" program is responsible for awarding 100 vehicles over the course of 100 days to 100 deserving nonprofit organizations, from across America, based on votes from the public. Since the "100 Cars for Good" program launched in May, five organizations per day were profiled on Toyota's Facebook page where the public was invited to show their support by voting daily to help determine the winning nonprofit organization.  Winning organizations could choose from an array of Toyota vehicles, while the four runners-up each received $1,000.

The Food Bank of Lincoln works with the Center for People in Need to sponsor mobile pantries at five sites per week in Lincoln. This program, called Neighborhood FOOD, is held at community gathering places in some of Lincoln's poorest areas and currently serves approximately 1,300 families per week. Foodbank of Lincoln has selected a Highlander Hybrid as their vehicle of choice.

The Lighthouse After-School Program offers middle and high school aged-youth academic support, evening meals and enrichment/recreational activities during non-school hours, Monday-Friday, twelve months a year.  This organization has also chosen a new Highlander Hybrid as its prize of choice.

The Arbor Day Farm is a 260-acre public destination which features an array of natural attractions and amenities.  With conservation at its heart, Arbor Day Farm enables visitors to engage the environment in enjoyable ways, while educating them on the wonders and complexity of the natural world.  Arbor Day Farm will be receiving a Sienna minivan that day.

Performance Toyota of Lincoln is located at 6320 Telluride, Lincoln.  For more information on the dealership, visit www.toyotaoflincoln.com or call (888) 262-1443.

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.

SOURCE Toyota