Toyota Drives Support for America's Most Treasured Lands
Automaker provides sponsorship and volunteers in nationwide effort to restore beauty of hometown public lands and roadways
09/10/2007 Washington, DC
September 10, 2007 - Washington, DC - For the ninth consecutive year, Toyota will serve as the title sponsor of National Public Lands Day (NPLD), the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort to preserve America's public lands. This annual event, in partnership with the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), will take place on Saturday, September 29, 2007.
Every year since 1994, thousands of volunteers have hosted outdoor projects on America's most treasured lands. It is estimated that this year alone NPLD volunteers will contribute $12 million in improvements to federal, state and local lands. Nearly 110,000 volunteers of all ages are expected at more than 1,000 sites nationwide.
Volunteers will build and refurbish trails, repair bridges, restore historic structures, pick up trash, relocate fish, clean up after hurricanes, monitor endangered species and restore habitats. In 2006, 100,000 Americans got involved and that number is expected to increase by at least 10,000.
As the official NPLD sponsor, Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. not only offers financial support, but encourages its associates to organize and participate in local sites. Thus far, Toyota associates have organized 18 sites, with more sites planned.
"Volunteering at a National Public Lands Day site can make a difference in local neighborhoods, national parks and forests, as well as create a sense of pride and accomplishment among associates and their families here at Toyota," said J.L. Armstrong, TMS national manager and NEEF board member.
Toyota's sponsorship of NPLD is guided by its Global Earth Charter, a comprehensive effort to protect the environment in all stages of the company's operation. Toyota's Eco-Coordinators and Think Green! Champions are just some of the designated environmental leaders within the company.
This year's environmental conservation efforts also will be highlighted during Toyota's "Highway to the Future" Mobile Hybrid Synergy Tour throughout September. Visitors to the exhibit will learn about NPLD while experiencing the latest in Toyota hybrid technology. To minimize the environmental impact of the tour, Toyota will plant 50,000 trees in partnership with the National Arbor Day Foundation. NPLD volunteers will help lower the impact even more by planting additional trees at local sites as well.
Just prior to event day, NPLD representatives from NEEF will travel to eight sites in the hybrid version of the Toyota Highlander to deliver grants to eight work sites including:
September 18: Appalachian Trail in Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina
September 19: Kudzu Coalition, Spartanburg, South Carolina
September 21: Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia
September 21: Florida Air National Guard, Jacksonville, Florida
September 22: Jupiter Inlet Natural Area, Jupiter, Florida
September 24: New Orleans Multisite Project, New Orleans, Louisiana
September 27: Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, Corbin, Kentucky
September 29: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Washington D.C.
To learn more about how you can be a part of this important effort to preserve American's lands, please visit
www.publiclandsday.org.
About Toyota
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), 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 1,427 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers in 49 states. Established in 1957, TMS and its subsidiaries also are involved in distribution logistics, motorsports,
and research and development.
About National Environmental Education Foundation
The National Environmental Education Foundation provides objective environmental information to help Americans live better every day. We work with professionals in health, education, public lands and media to connect the environment to everyday choices and actions so the public can live well while protecting and enjoying nature. Through our signature programs like National Public Lands Day, Environmental Education Week, Earth Gauge and the Pediatric Environmental History Initiative, The National Environmental Education Foundation offers Americans knowledge to live by. To learn more, call (202) 833-2933 or visit
www.neefusa.org.
About National Public Lands Day
National Public Lands Day partners include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of Defense, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, USDA's Forest Service, the U.S. Invasive Species Council, over 30 states, numerous local agencies, and nonprofit groups such as the National Parks Conservation Association, International Mountain Bicycling Association, The Corps Network, and Girl Scouts of the USA.
Linear Mode
