Toyota Honors Year's Top Volunteers

GEORGETOWN, KENTUCKY, (February 11, 2008) — Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) honored its top volunteers during the company’s annual Volunteers In Place (VIP) Recognition Dinner held in Lexington, this past Saturday. The VIP program was developed in 1994 to encourage and recognize team member volunteer work while supporting TMMK's operating principles and firm commitment to good corporate citizenship.

“Because of the VIP program, TMMK has a structure that allows us to organize volunteer efforts, and recognize our extraordinary team members for what they do to make their communities better places to live,” said TMMK President Steve St. Angelo.

Participation in the VIP program has consistently grown, with almost 700 team members currently enrolled.  These team members have recorded more than 31,000 man-hours in our community.  That’s the equivalent of 778 work weeks spent volunteering.

Each year, TMMK honors its top five volunteers based on a scoring system that awards points in various areas including the number of hours worked, leadership roles undertaken and impact on the community. Along with being individually recognized, the volunteers selected an organization to receive a donation in their honor on behalf of TMMK.

Bethany Giordano, a specialist in TMMK’s Facilities Control department, was this year’s recipient of the President’s Award as the company’s top volunteer of 2007. Giordano first joined TMMK in 1999 as a co-op and returned in 2002 after graduating from the University of Louisville. A Shelbyville native and now a Georgetown resident, Giordano’s love for four legged friends got her involved with the Scott County Humane Society, a cause she holds close to her heart. This is her third straight year as one of TMMK’s “Top Five” volunteers. Her previous volunteer activities involved taking pledges during the KET telethon to hosting impromptu singing concerts while acting as a bell ringer for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign.

In recognition of Giordano’s incredible dedication and volunteerism, TMMK presented a check to the Scott County Humane Society in the amount of $3000.

TMMK also honored James Paul Switzer, Kim Sweazy, Lisa Gilliam, and Kenny Merritt for their volunteer efforts.

James Paul Switzer, of Cynthiana, is being honored for the second time as a TMMK Top Five volunteer. He is head coach of the Harrison County High School Freshman Fillies Volleyball team and an assistant coach of both the varsity and the junior varsity volleyball teams.  Switzer is currently serving his second term as chairman of the Harrison County District Board, and Vice President of the Harrison County 4-H Council. Switzer also lends his time to local programs such as serving holiday meals to the elderly, teaching livestock classes for Harrison County FFA Chapter and working with Harrison County’s Project Grad. Switzer designated the Harrison County 4-H Council to receive the $1,500 donation.

Kim Sweazy, of Frankfort, was honored for a record setting eighth time. Including this year’s nomination, she has been nominated a “top five” finalist six times and won the award in 1995 and 2006. A prolific volunteer, Sweazy’s activities include Chairwoman of the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Pink Tie Gala, President of the Lexington Forum,  TMMK Captain for the KET Telefund, Cardinal Hill Telefund and UK Children’s Hospital’s Children’s Miracle Network. Sweazy designated the Children’s Charity Fund of the Bluegrass to receive the $1,500 donation.

Lisa Gilliam, of Georgetown, has been nominated three times as a “top five” volunteer. She is involved in numerous activities including Special Olympics’ Polar Bear Plunge, where she served as TMMK’s Team Captain. Gilliam also provides Easter baskets to seniors in nursing homes and is heavily involved in the Hope Center Recovery Program for Women. For many years she has coordinated the Center’s Christmas Party and serves on the Center’s Feed the Need Committee. Gilliam chose the Hope Center Recovery Program for Women to receive the $1,500 donation.

Kenny Merritt, of Mt. Vernon, enjoyed his first time being recognized as a TMMK “top five” volunteer. Merritt is a third shift team member who does not end his work day until 7:00 a.m. Despite the unusual schedule, Merritt spends his free time volunteering for the Hope Center as well as manning the phones for the Cardinal Hill, KET and Children’s Miracle Network telethons. Merritt also mentors at the Christ’s Outreach for the Blind in Mt. Vernon and is especially proud of his work with the athletes of Kentucky Special Olympics. Merritt designated the Special Olympics Kentucky to receive the $1,500 donation.

TMMK is located on 1,300 acres in Scott County and is Toyota’s largest manufacturing plant in North America. Since 1987, TMMK has totaled more than $30 million in contributions and sponsorships to various charitable and non-profit organizations in Kentucky.

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