Toyota Dealers Partner with Make-A-Wish Foundation to Support Northern California and Central Valley Communities

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota Dealerships in Northern California and Central Valley today announced a yearlong partnership with the Greater Bay Area, Northeastern California and Central California Make-A-Wish chapters, furthering its philanthropic community efforts to improve the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Now through the end of 2013, customers are encouraged to donate $10 to Make-A-Wish at their local Northern California and Central Valley Toyota dealerships in exchange for a $20 voucher towards a future service or installed Toyota accessory. 

"We know that Toyota drivers are loyal to their vehicles, and we appreciate Toyota's loyalty to the children in their communities," said Patricia Wilson, Executive Director for Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area. "Now every time a Toyota owner gets their car serviced, they can help make dreams come true for children in need."

Giving back to local communities is part of Toyota's mission and the Northern California and Central Valley dealers actively support it. Most recently they collected more than 17,000 toys for the Toys for Tots Foundation over the holidays, and Capitol Toyota in San Jose has raised $50,000 for its local Make-A-Wish chapter in the last 12 months.

"This partnership marks the first formal commitment with Make-A-Wish from Toyota dealers across Northern California and Central Valley," said Briana Nelson, Assistant General Manager for Toyota, San Francisco Region. "We're confident that our customers will help fulfill some great wishes for children in our communities throughout the year, and we are looking forward to hearing about them. Money raised by each dealer will support its local Make-A-Wish chapter, so we will be making a direct impact on families living in our neighborhoods."

People can donate to their local Make-A-Wish chapter at one of the participating Northern California and Central Valley Toyota dealerships from now through the end of the year. Every $7,500 raised by Toyota customers will grant one child's wish.

About Toyota 
Toyota established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants and has a network of nearly 1,500 dealerships.  Toyota directly employs over 30,000 in the United States, 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 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 $600 billion dollars to philanthropic programs in the United States.  

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

About Make-A-Wish® Greater Bay Area:
Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. In 2012 Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area embarks on 28 years of fulfilling magical wishes. During its first year of operation, in 1984, the chapter granted 27 wishes. Now one of the largest chapters nationwide, the Greater Bay Area grants over 300 wishes per year and has granted over 6,000 wishes to date. The chapter covers 17 Northern California counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Marin, Monterey, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Siskiyou, Solano and Sonoma. The goal of Make-A-Wish is to grant a wish to every eligible child in its territory. Anyone can suggest a child for a wish. For more information or to refer a child for a wish, please call (415) 982-9474 or visit www.SF.Wish.org

About Make-A-Wish® Central California
Make-A-Wish® Central California grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions between the ages of 2 1/2 & 18 years of age to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 63 chapters in the United States and its territories.

The Central California chapter has granted over 1,800 wishes since its inception in 1986. Every dollar raised in our area stays local to grant the wishes of children in Central California. A wish experience is often more than a dream come true: It's the catalyst that rekindles the wish child's belief in themselves and the promise of their future. For more information, please call (559) 221-9474 or visit www.centralca.wish.org.

About Make-A-Wish® Northeastern California and Northern Nevada
Make-A-Wish® of Northeastern California and Northern Nevada was established in 1983 as one of the early local chapters of Make-A-Wish® America, which is the leading wish-granting organization in the country. Since then, it has granted more than 4,700 wishes to children within its 37-county service area. The mission of Make-A-Wish® is to grant wishes to children, age 2 1/2 to 18, with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human spirit with hope, strength, and joy.

For more information about Make-A-Wish® Northeastern California and Northern Nevada, call (916) 437-0206 or visit www.necannv.wish.org.

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SOURCE Toyota