At a presentation event at the Burnaston plant on Thursday 23rd April, representatives from Cancer Research UK; National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children; Derbyshire, Leicester & Rutland Air Ambulance; Derbyshire Association for the Blind; Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and Treetops Hospice, collected their donations from Toyota Manufacturing UK’s Managing Director Katsunori Kojima.
The presentation also marked the official launch of the Toyota Manufacturing UK Charitable Trust*, set up in 2008 to distribute funds to local good causes. In its first year the Trust generated £201,403 through corporate and employee fundraising activities, of which every pound will be donated to support local projects.
Employees’ fundraising activities included marathons, fun runs, golf events, raffles, cycle rides and cake sales. Corporate fundraising was generated through visitor donations on the ever-popular Public Visit Programme and charity benchmarking seminars, where businesses pay a donation to spend a day at the Burnaston and Deeside plants learning about our operations and business techniques.
Speaking ahead of the presentations Karen Bradley, Communications & External Affairs Manager, explained Toyota’s commitment to maintaining support for local good causes during the current economic downturn.
“The current economic climate is challenging for all. It is especially challenging for charities that deliver much needed support to many people throughout our regions and depend upon donations to maintain their services.
From the start of our operations we have supported a wide range organisations and our employees continue to show great energy and creativity when it comes to fundraising. Through our Charitable Trust we aim to continue our support for local good causes for years to come.”
Each year the company nominates main beneficiaries from the Charitable Trust working in focus areas of children, environment, education and health. The remaining funds are distributed to other local charities and good causes in the same focus areas.
Charities & groups are invited to apply for donations from the Toyota Manufacturing UK Charitable Trust in October. Application forms will be available on the company website in October 2009 (visit www.toyotauk.com/community).
Since the start of production in 1992 Toyota has contributed over £2.5 million towards the local communities surrounding its plants in Derbyshire and North Wales.
For more information, please contact: Steve Carter, Toyota Manufacturing UK on 01332 283666 or 07908 214781
*Toyota Manufacturing UK Charitable Trust Registration number 1124678
