Toyota Announces Finalists in 100 Cars for Good Program

TORRANCE, Calif., April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota today announced the 500 nonprofit organizations selected as finalists in the "100 Cars for Good" program, which will award 100 vehicles over the course of 100 days to 100 deserving nonprofit organizations based on votes from the public.

Toyota's 100 Cars for Good initiative engages the public to determine the 100 organizations to receive a Toyota vehicle for use in the community.  The 500 finalists, selected from a pool of applications submitted via Toyota's Facebook page from March 7-21, 2011, were chosen by an independent panel of judges who are experts in the fields of philanthropy and corporate social responsibility. The finalists represent non-profit organizations servicing the community across a broad range of categories including animal welfare, arts, education, environment, health, safety and human services, among others.

Finalists will create an online profile, which may include a video showcasing how the organization plans to use a new Toyota vehicle to do good in their local community.  Starting May 9, public voting will begin and take place for 100 consecutive days, with five organizations profiled on Toyota's Facebook page each day.  The public may vote for the charity they feel is most deserving based on the created profiles.  A vehicle will be awarded daily through August 16 for a total of 100 vehicles. Voters may place one vote per day, each day, over the course of the program.  Winning organizations can choose from the following vehicles:  Toyota Prius, Tacoma, Tundra, Highlander Hybrid, Sienna, or Sienna Mobility.  With each vehicle, Toyota Financial Services will provide a six-year 100,000 mile Toyota Vehicle Service Agreement to help provide extended protection from mechanical breakdowns beyond the vehicle warranty.  

For a complete list of finalists, please visit www.facebook.com/toyota.

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"Congratulations to the non-profits selected as 100 Cars for Good finalists, and to all those who applied for consideration," said Jim Lentz, president of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. "We look forward to seeing the public voting and the end result – these vehicles being used to help local communities across the country in the weeks, months and years to come."

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