News

9/29/2008
Toyota And Community Team Up To Support National Public Lands Day Activities

More than 200 Volunteers help beautify the Salato Wildlife Education Center

Team Members and community volunteers work on constructing a boardwalk at the Salato Center.

GEORGETOWN, KENTUCKY, (September 29, 2008) — Community volunteers and team members from Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) gathered at the Salato Wildlife Education Center in Frankfort on Saturday, September 27, 2008 as part of the 15th annual National Public Lands Day activities.

National Public Lands Day is the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands Americans enjoy. Last year, 110,000 volunteers built trails and bridges, planted trees and plants, and removed trash and invasive plants.

There were several projects scheduled at the Salato Center including the construction of a 200-ft. boardwalk along the "Toyota HabiTrek Trail." This trail was part of an original project that TMMK supported in 2003. The boardwalk will help make a portion of the trail handicap accessible. Other projects on the schedule included general trail clean up & maintenance, and the creation of two additional short trails within the exhibit area.

"To see our team members and community volunteers come together for this activity is a testimony to the strong volunteer spirit which exists in our communities across Kentucky," said Steve St. Angelo, president of TMMK. "Our team members and the rest of the volunteers have a lot of pride in making Kentucky a beautiful place to live."

Community volunteers included members of various groups such as Shelbyville Cub Scout Pack 446, members of Franklin County High School's Football Team and Air Force ROTC, and members of Kentucky State University's Cooperative Association of States for Scholarships (CASS) Program.

Representatives from Take Pride America®, a national partnership program authorized by Congress to promote the appreciation and stewardship of public lands, including parks, forests, historic sites, and schools also visited Saturday's event. This was the final stop for Take Pride in America® as part of a nationwide trip promoting volunteer service on public lands. This leg of the Toyota-sponsored "Voluntour Across America," tagged the "Heartland Voluntour," features Take Pride in America staff traveling in a Toyota Highlander through six states over 15 days and participating in ten events.

Volunteers also had the opportunity to participate in the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources celebration of "National Hunting & Fishing Day." Activities included fishing in the lake, learning how to bow fish, throwing a tomahawk and target practice with air rifles.

About TMMK

TMMK is located in Georgetown, Ky., and is Toyota’s largest manufacturing facility in North America employing about 7,000 team members. Initially, TMMK hired team members from 116 of Kentucky’s 120 counties and continues its philosophy of giving back to the communities where its team members live. TMMK has the capacity to produce 500,000 vehicles and engines annually. Its products include the Camry, Camry Hybrid, Avalon and Solara as well as V6 and 4-cylinder engines and engine components. Since arriving in Georgetown in 1986, TMMK has distributed more than $32 million in gifts and sponsorships across Kentucky.

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