We've run several articles lately about the many contributions that Toyota has made to environmental concerns.
Well, here's another: Toyota has promised to make a $5 million
contribution to support five National Parks as well as a National Park
Foundation that works to enhance environmental leadership and
educational programs at parks around the country. Toyota also will
donate 23 vehicles to the National Parks. Cool.
"For more than
a century, the National Parks have been a treasure across the United
States," said Dian Ogilvie, senior vice president of Toyota Motor North America.
"We are proud to support these excellent programs for young people at
the National Parks that are helping to develop the environmental
leaders of tomorrow."
Some of the funds may be used by the local
fundraising partners such as Everglades National Parks for matching
Federal funds as part of the National Park Centennial Challenge program
highlighting the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016.
The one-time $5 million grant will support environmental education programs of U.S. National Parks through national park friends groups and fundraising partners, including:
- * Everglades National Park (Florida) through the South Florida National Parks Trust;
- * Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina, Tennessee) through the Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park;
- * Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho) through the Yellowstone Park Foundation;
- * Yosemite National Park (California) through the Yosemite Fund;
- * Grand Canyon (Arizona) through the Grand Canyon National Park Foundation;
- * Multiple national parks through the National Park Foundation;
- * Many of the parks also will receive Toyota vehicles to support the programs.
Toyota
says these parks were chosen for their environmental educational
programs and dedication to developing environmental stewards. The
programs they offer serve children and teachers by enhancing
environmental science education and include day-use and camp
scholarships for inner-city and Native American communities, bilingual
Junior Ranger programs, and the University of California intern program
designed to cultivate new leadership for the National Park Service.
"Toyota's philanthropic support of National Parks is an excellent match
for the goals we're working to accomplish," said Paul A. Zambernardi,
Executive Director of the Yellowstone Park Foundation. "These grants
will allow Yellowstone and the other parks to do so much more for
education in the National Parks." This contribution builds on Toyota's
longstanding support of volunteerism, environmental leadership and
national public lands and parks. Toyota has been a supporter of "Take
Pride in America," a national partnership program of the US Department
of the Interior aimed at increasing volunteer service on America's
public lands.
By Brandy Schaffels
Editor, AskPatty.com
environment
