News

2/1/2008
TMMK Celebrates Record Turnout for 10th Annual Polar Bear Plunge

GEORGETOWN, KENTUCKY, (February 1, 2008) — For the tenth year in a row, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) has participated in the Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge. This year, Team Toyota raised a record $17,000, and claimed the title of “Top Fundraising Team.”

Billed as the “Coolest Event in Kentucky,” the Polar Bear Plunge is one of Kentucky’s Special Olympics biggest fundraising events of the season. Those participating in the plunge take pledges from friends and family and then literally dive into a pool of water-in the middle of January! Money raised goes to support sports training and competition opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities throughout the state.

Team Toyota was comprised of 31  team members from all over the manufacturing facility including Manufacturing Support and Powertrain Vice President Cheryl Jones.

Cheered on by TMMK President Steve St. Angelo, Jones braved the elements and physically threw herself into the spirit of volunteering.

New this year to the fundraiser was the inclusion of “super plungers” in which lucky volunteers jumped into the water starting at 6:00 a.m. and continued every hour on the hour for a total of 8 plunges.

Team Toyota’s Super Plungers were:

• Carl Edmondson, Lexington, Ky., a Group Leader in Assembly 1 Trim line
• Charlie Hannan, Winchester, Ky.,  a Group Leader in Assembly 1 Door line
• Kenny Merritt, Mt. Vernon, Ky., a skilled Team Member in Powertrain Maintenance

The Polar Bear Plunge and Special Olympics are just examples of hundreds of programs supported by TMMK team members through the plant’s  (Volunteers in Place) VIP Program. VIP was created to encourage and recognize team member volunteer work and to set up a volunteer network to respond to needs in communities where TMMK team members live. Each year, TMMK gives over $50,000 to charities through the VIP Program, and team members give tens of thousands of hours of volunteer time. Through volunteerism, TMMK and its team members work together to make their communities stronger, healthier and a better place to live.

TMMK employs about 7,000 team members in its 7.5 million square foot facility. It has the capacity to build more than 500,000 Camrys, Solaras and Avalons each year.

Click Here to View a Slideshow of the Event

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Contact:
Rick Hesterberg
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc.
502-868-2135