Toyota USA Foundation Announces $3.3 Million in New Grants

The Toyota USA Foundation, a charitable endowment supporting K-12 math and science education, today announced $3.3 million in new grants. The latest round of grants is going to 12 organizations from across the country.

"During these challenging economic times, we are pleased to support these excellent programs," said Patricia Salas Pineda, group vice president of Toyota Motor North America. "These grants are an investment in the future of our teachers and young people and will give them invaluable skills for the future."

The Toyota USA Foundation supports quality K-12 programs that improve the teaching and learning of mathematics, science, and environmental education. The foundation places a high priority on:

   * Diverse programs that are broad in scope, incorporate
     inter-disciplinary learning, and use "real-world" classroom
     applications; and
   * Innovative and cost-effective programs which develop
     students and teachers' abilities.

Toyota USA Foundation 2009 Grants:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Organization    Program         Description                   Grant
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Academy for     After-School    A two-year math enrichment    $250,000
Educational     Math Plus       after-school program for
Development                     1,700 third through eighth-
New York, NY                    grade American Indian
                                students in the Wabanaki,
                                Cherokee and Pueblo nations.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
American Museum National Center Support content development,  $300,000
of Natural      for Science,    dissemination efforts and
History         Literacy,       website upgrades for Science
New York, NY    Education, and  Bulletins, a multi-media and
                Technology      on-line science news and
                                scientific research program
                                that delivers up-to-date
                                science content knowledge at
                                low cost to museums and free
                                to schools across the United
                                States.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Arizona Council Mathematics and Provide training, curricula,  $100,000
on Economic     Economics for   and classroom lessons to
Education       Grades K-12     prepare teachers to help
Scottsdale, AZ                  students achieve the Arizona
                                Economics and Mathematics
                                Standards in grades K-12.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Chicago         Science First   Support two programs which    $65,000
Horticultural   and College     encourage students from
Society/Chicago First           underserved communities to
Botanic Garden                  pursue science careers and
Glencoe, IL                     education beyond high school
                                through summer science camps,
                                internships and school-year
                                meetings.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Children's  The CAS         Development and implementa-   $495,000
Aid Society     Environmental   tion of a school-based and an
New York, NY    Education       after-school environmental
                Curriculum      curriculum in the Flint, MI
                                and Toledo, OH school
                                districts to enhance existing
                                components of the Children's
                                Aid Society's program for 5th
                                & 6th grade students.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
MIND Research   Algebra I       Adapt its highly effective    $200,000
Institute       Curriculum      non-language-based approach
Santa Ana, CA   Development     to teaching math in the
                Project         development of an Algebra I
                                curriculum which would
                                provide educators an
                                alternate and successful
                                approach to teaching this
                                subject.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
MK Level        Summer Math and Support an intensive year-    $180,000
Playing Field   Science Honors  round math and science
Institute       (SMASH) Academy academy for 90 low-income,
San Francisco,                  high-achieving students of
CA                              color in the San Francisco
                                Bay Area.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
National        EnvironMentors  Support the establishment of  $407,000
Council for     Teacher         a high school teacher
Science and the Training        training component for the
Environment     Program         EnvironMentors program.
Washington, DC                  EnvironMentors seeks to
                                increase interest in the
                                environment among under-
                                represented youth by matching
                                each participant to mentors
                                working in environmental
                                fields.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Research        Stony Brook     Provide intensive modern      $493,875
Foundation of   University      laboratory experiences for
SUNY            Biotechnology   in-service science and
Stony Brook, NY Teaching        mathematics teachers in
                Laboratory      New York state.
                (SUBTLE)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
New Mexico      Science Stars   Expand the SEMAA program, a   $157,600
State           of New Mexico   science, technology, engi-
University -                    neering and mathematics
Southern New                    program for kindergarten
Mexico Science,                 through second-grade
Engineering,                    students.
Mathematics and
Aerospace
Academy
Las Cruces, NM
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The After-      NYC             Create a demonstration        $250,000
School          Environmental   project that will inspire
Corporation     Conservation    young people, especially
New York, NY    Heroes Award    children of color and girls,
                                to become scientists through
                                participation in environ-
                                mental conservation clubs in
                                after-school programs in
                                New York City, targeting
                                children in grades 3-8.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
University of   UCHEM           Launch an updated version of  $403,758
Texas at Austin                 "ChemBridge," a dual credit
Department of                   on-line chemistry course for
Chemistry and                   high school seniors that
Biochemistry                    would create a smoother
Austin, TX                      transition from high school
                                to university.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The Toyota USA Foundation charitable endowment was established in 1987 to support education programs serving kindergarten through 12th grade students and their teachers in the United States, with an emphasis on mathematics, science and environmental science. For additional information about the Toyota USA Foundation, visit www.toyota.com/foundation.

This news release was distributed by GlobeNewswire, www.globenewswire.com

SOURCE: Toyota Motor North America, Inc.

Toyota Motor North America, Inc.
          Daniel Sieger
          212-715-7493

Related terms: aerospace, arizona, biology, biotechnology, california, children, college, conservation, education, educators, engineering, foundation, grants, high school, investment, media, mexico, new york, new mexico, north america, president, research, science, standards, teachers, technology, texas, training, university, washington dc