Toyota Announces Broad-Based Educational Initiatives for Southeast D.C.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2004 -- Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. today announced donations valued at more than $5 million to four Southeast Washington non-profit initiatives. All are linked by a common purpose -- Education.

The multi-year donations will support: 1) the restocking of the libraries of each of the 43 public elementary schools in Southeast Washington, 2) the establishment of a family literacy program, 3) an existing high school automotive training program, and 4) vocational and pre-vocational programs.

"Our original plans called for funding a single DC-area automotive training center," said Irv Miller, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. group vice president. "But as we came to know the city, we realized that we could have a much broader impact by rethinking the focus of our giving and casting our net a little wider."

Over the next three years, Toyota will provide 43,000 books, a thousand to each of the 43 public elementary schools in Southeast, at a cost of $1.3 million. As a result of this program, approximately 15,000 children in Southeast DC will have ready access to new high quality books from a list to be developed by officials of the D.C. Public Schools. The restocking program will be administered by Barbara Skinner of the Skinner Leadership Institute and the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, in partnership with the Washington DC Jewish Community Center, (DCJCC). The initiative, fashioned after a similar Toyota-sponsored program administered by the Jewish Federation in Los Angeles, addresses the growing need for additional library books throughout the District.

The National Center for Family Literacy will receive $1.3 million over ten years to establish a family literacy program in Southeast Washington. Also addressing work and parenting skills, this initiative will serve 100 families a year and is modeled after similar programs Toyota has supported elsewhere over the last 12 years.

Ballou High School will receive $1,500,000 over the next 10 years to support its automotive training program. The funding is earmarked for needs such as high-tech diagnostic equipment, computer equipment, toolboxes, and automotive components. This support will help Ballou maintain its affiliation with Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES), a not-for-profit organization that trains and develops students for retail automotive service careers. AYES is supported by automobile manufacturers, dealers and high schools.

Toyota will also contribute $1,000,000 to Washington DC's Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC), which implements comprehensive pre-vocational and vocational programs. The funding will be used for the organization's capital campaign and operating budget.

"I am delighted by the contributions that Toyota Motor Sales, USA is making to our city," said Washington DC Mayor Anthony A. Williams. "The company's contributions to our public school libraries and to Ballou's automotive training program demonstrate Toyota's extraordinary commitment to improving the lives of children and families in the District. We are delighted to have Toyota as a community partner."

About Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS):

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion in the United States, marketing products and services through a network of 1,415 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers in 49 states. Established in 1957, TMS and its subsidiaries also are involved in distribution logistics, motor sports, R&D and general aviation. The company's main website is http://www.toyota.com/.