Toyota USA Foundation To Address Digital Divide

(CBS DETROIT) - As virtual learning continues, many students across the country are still in need of internet access and computers to complete school work. To help meet this need, the Toyota USA Foundation approved grants totaling $3,357,000 to support students in 13 states, including Michigan, where the company has operations.

The grants will fund WiFi access points, mobile WiFi devices, laptop computers and software licenses, helping more than 350,000 students access virtual learning.

"All students deserve equal access to education," said Mike Goss, president, Toyota USA Foundation. "The foundation typically supports STEM, but the pandemic has exposed deeper issues that are a barrier to good education."

The grants build upon Toyota's ongoing COVID-19 relief efforts, prior foundation grants focused on e-learning programs and hunger, and the recent launch of an education hub that includes virtual field trips of the company's operations.

Approved grants will benefit:

Alabama

• Huntsville City Schools
• Madison City Schools
• Madison County Schools

Arizona

• Tempe School District
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Arizona

California

• Boys & Clubs of Long Beach
• Long Beach Fairfield YMCA
• Pathways to Independence

Indiana

• East Gibson School Corporation
• Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation
• North Gibson School Corporation
• South Gibson School Corporation

Iowa

• Cedar Rapids School District
• Marion School District

Kentucky

• Clark County Public Schools
• Fayette County Public Schools
• Harrison County Schools
• Scott County United Schools

Maryland

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Baltimore
• Baltimore City Schools

Michigan

• Washtenaw County School Districts and public libraries in Flint, Detroit and Saline

Missouri

• Lincoln County R-III School District

Mississippi

• South Tippah County School District
• Monroe County School District
• Itawamba County School District

Tennessee

• Jackson Madison County School System

Texas

• Dallas Independent School District
• Plano Independent School District
• Somerset Independent School District
• Uplift Education

West Virginia

• Putnam County Schools

About Toyota:

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through their Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time, Toyota has contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 40 million cars and trucks in North America, where they have 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including their joint venture in Alabama (10 in the U.S.), and directly employ more than 47,000 people (over 36,000 in the U.S.). Their 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold nearly 2.8 million cars and trucks (nearly 2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2019.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society's most pressing mobility challenges. They  believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

SOURCE Toyota Motor North America

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