Roseville, MN (August 1, 2024) — The Kids In Need Foundation (KINF) and Toyota (NYSE:TM) have joined forces once again for their third annual Big Summer Giveback program, aimed at enhancing learning opportunities for students in under-resourced schools nationwide. This year, the program expands significantly, championed by the participation of over 600 local Toyota dealerships. This underscores Toyota’s unwavering commitment to equity in education and its enduring partnership with the Kids In Need Foundation.
Since its inception in 2022, the Big Summer Giveback program has flourished, driven by the collective effort of Toyota and its dealership network. Over the past three years, this partnership has resulted in cumulative donations exceeding $3.75 million and supported over 140,000 students through KINF’s Supply A Student program.
From August 1-31, 2024, Toyota will donate $3.00 to KINF for every oil change with a tire rotation at participating Toyota Service Centers. Toyota is also promoting equity in education through an additional fundraiser during the month for customers who would like to contribute more, collecting donations at www.kinf.org/toyota.
In addition to dealership contributions, 47 Toyota dealerships have pledged $10,000 each to benefit their local communities. These donations exemplify Toyota’s dual commitment to supporting education on a national scale while making a tangible impact locally.
“We are excited to once again be able to partner with the Kids In Need Foundation for the Big Summer Giveback Program,” said Mark Nazario, Vice President of Guest Experience & Retention at Toyota Motor North America. “This initiative underscores the commitment from Toyota and our dealers to fostering equitable access to education and supporting students and teachers in underserved communities across the country.”
Through its Supply A Student program, KINF will distribute backpacks filled with school supplies to students in schools where 70% or more of the student population qualifies for free or reduced meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). This strategic focus ensures that resources reach those who need them most.
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Toyota for the third consecutive year. This collaboration has been instrumental in creating a significant impact for thousands of students and teachers alike. This year alone, over 60,000 students will start the year with the supplies they need to learn,” said Corey Gordon, CEO of KINF. “This not only eases the burden on teachers in under-resourced schools to provide the supplies their students need to be successful, it also increases public awareness of the importance of creating equitable learning environments in our underserved communities.”
To further engage the community, Toyota encourages customers to contribute through an additional fundraising opportunity at www.kinf.org/toyota, allowing everyone to play a role in supporting education and providing essential resources to students.
For more information about how you can support KINF and its programs, please visit www.kinf.org.
About Kids In Need Foundation:
Kids In Need Foundation helps create equitable learning spaces through the distribution of supplies and resources, investing in teachers and students in underserved schools. With the belief that every child in America should have equal opportunity and resources to engage in a quality education, Kids In Need Foundation focuses its programs and initiatives on teachers and students most under-resourced, those where 70 percent or more of the enrolled students are eligible for free or reduced-cost meals through the National School Lunch Program. In 2023, through its programs, National Network of Resource Centers, and coast-to-coast local partners, Kids In Need Foundation and our national network supported over 4 million students and 200,00 teachers in 13,000 under-resourced schools, with KINF distributing more than $42 million in free school supplies and classroom resources nationwide at no cost to schools or teachers. For more information, visit kinf.org, and join us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter: @KidsInNeed.
About Toyota:
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships. Toyota directly employs more than 39,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 32 million cars and trucks at our nine manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 10th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, a quarter of the company’s 2021 U.S. sales were electrified. To help inspire the next generation for a career in STEM-based fields, including mobility, Toyota launched its virtual education hub at www.TourToyota.com with an immersive experience and chance to virtually visit many of our U.S. manufacturing facilities. The hub also includes a series of free STEM-based lessons and curriculum through Toyota USA Foundation partners, virtual field trips and more. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.