About The Sponsor

Education Initiatives | Environmental Initiatives | Safety Initiatives | Frequently Asked Questions

The Toyota International Teacher Program is sponsored by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. . Toyota is built upon two pillars - respect for people and continuous improvement - and believes in Making a Difference by helping diverse groups of people improve the quality of life in their communities. Toyota's primary philanthropic focus is education, with a strong emphasis on environment and safety. Toyota U.S.A. contributed $66.5 million in 2008 for programs nationwide that offer people the tools, training and support they need to Make a Difference, today and tomorrow. Of the $66.5 million, 68% supported education, including a majority of environmental education programs. Please read below about Toyota's programs that support education, the environment, and safety. In areas where Toyota operates major facilities, they also sponsor programs in the arts and culture, and health and human services.

Toyota also incorporates diversity in all areas of their business. They strive to be a company that accurately reflects the communities in which they work. They allocate a minimum of 30% of annual giving to minority groups and under served communities with emphasis on education.

Toyota is also working to expand its impact in communities by offering more volunteer opportunities for its associates, who already support numerous local causes. Each year, thousands of Toyota associates volunteer for National Public Lands Day, Earth Day, Special Olympics, and various school mentorship programs, to name a few.

Toyota also has a long history of supporting families affected by disasters through the American Red Cross. Most recently, Toyota USA donated $1 million to support families affected by Hurricane Ike in September 2008. Other efforts include $4 million to help the victims of the 2005 tsunami and $1.9 million for the tragedy in New York City on September 11, 2001.

Toyota's EDUCATION Initiatives

Toyota TAPESTRY

TAPESTY was established in 1991 with National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and provides nearly $600,000 in direct classroom grants each year for K-12 science teachers. Projects selected by an NSTA-convened committee are based on creativity, risk-taking and originality in three categories: environmental science, physical science and integrating science and literacy. Funded projects include a range of topics such as: atmospheric research, endangered species; and the economic and environmental benefits of alternative energy systems.

Toyota International Teacher Program (TITP)

TITP is a fully funded, short-term study abroad program developed in 1998 with the Institute of International Education (IIE) in Washington, DC. Currently, the competitive program sends secondary teachers to the Galápagos Islands and Costa Rica to study environmental and sustainability issues. The selection process, conducted by IIE, includes criteria such as the teachers’ experiences in leadership, environmental and internationally oriented activities, and their impact plans for their students. New to the program in 2008, the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California - Santa Barbara now provides consultation and faculty support.

Toyota USA Foundation

Annually the Foundation funds up to $5 million to programs nationwide that improve the teaching and learning of K-12 mathematics and science, particularly through collaborations with universities, colleges and other nonprofits. Recent grants include:

  • Academy for Educational Development to develop a math curriculum for under served students;
  • Girls, Inc., a program to sharpen math, science and engineering skills with young girls;
  • American Museum of Natural History, an urban science teacher program to prepare certified science teachers; and
  • Temple University, an environmental science summer academy.

Toyota Community Scholars Program

Toyota supports higher education as well. This scholarship program awards $1 million annually in college scholarships to 100 high school seniors based on academics and community service. Each U.S. high school may nominate only one senior, based on academics, leadership and commitment to serving the community. Our partner organization, Education Testing Service (ETS), selects the 100 scholar recipients from approximately 8,000 applications each year.

Scholarship support is also provided to diverse organizations such as:

  • Hispanic Scholarship Fund (since 1988),
  • United Negro College Fund (since 1988),
  • Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (since 2005),
  • National FFA (since 1991),
  • American Indian College Fund; and
  • TELACU (a Community Development Organization).

National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL)

Toyota is proud of its long relationship with NCFL, the organization that, in 1989, pioneered the approach that puts family at the forefront of educational reform. As one of the first major sponsors in 1991, Toyota has contributed more than $35 million to help NCFL develop model literacy programs throughout the country. Today, through this partnership, more that 241 family literacy sites in 47 cities and 29 states have been developed. These programs help increase language and literacy skills, as well as successful parenting skills, among Hispanic and other immigrant families.

Washington, DC. Schools

Toyota donated more than $5 million to four nonprofit education centers to benefit Southeast schools in Washington, DC. This included a major book restocking program.

For more information on these programs, please see the following websites:

  1. Toyota TAPESTRY, the largest K-12 science teacher grant program of its kind in the U.S.;
  2. Toyota Community Scholars, which provides 100 scholarships to high school seniors based on academics and community service; and
  3. The Toyota International Teacher Program
  4. National FFA
  5. Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation

Toyota's ENVIRONMENT Initiatives

Preserving the environment and earth’s natural resources is a top priority for Toyota. They are constantly working to reduce their impact on the environment. The Toyota Global Earth Charter guides their commitment to environmental stewardship in all areas of our business, including building green plants, expanding hybrid technology and supporting education and community programs.

National Public Lands Day

For the past 11 years, Toyota has been the only national sponsor of National Public Lands Day (NPLD), an annual event held every September and administered by the National Environmental Education Foundation. Hundreds of Toyota employees join thousands of volunteers across the country at local parks and other public lands to help beautify, refurbish and restore. In 2008, NPLD also joined hands to help commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps by planting one million trees.

Lexus ECO Challenge

The Lexus ECO Challenge was created in partnership with Scholastics in 2008. It awards $1 million in grants and scholarships each year to next generation environmentalists. Teams of up to 10 students, along with a teacher adviser, compete for the prize money that is awarded in increments of $10,000 to $50,000. Award money goes to the teacher’s classroom, the school and student scholarships. Projects range from sending solar ovens and low-impact green cuisine recipes to African refugees to building biodiesel processors. All teams must spread the word about conservation.

TogetherGreen.

In early 2008, Toyota announced a major $20 million conservation initiative with National Audubon Society called “Together Green.” Previously, Toyota funded two Audubon urban nature centers in Los Angeles and New York. Through this $20 million grant over five years (the largest Audubon has received in its 103-year history), “TogetherGreen.” supports three significant areas in Audubon Centers across the country, including:

  • innovation grants for community projects;
  • conservation fellowships to train environmental leaders; and
  • volunteer days to encourage community involvement.

An important mission for the TogetherGreen program is to reach out to diverse, urban communities.

U.S. National Parks

Toyota is also proud to be affiliated with the U.S. National Parks and the National Park Foundation. In early 2008, Toyota committed $5 million and 23 vehicles to enhance environmental leadership and education programs at five national parks. This funding enables the parks to create and sustain specific environmental leadership activities and curriculum-based, environmental education programs. The five beneficiary parks are:

  • Everglades National Park Everglades,
  • Great Smokey Mountains National Park,
  • Grand Canyon National Park,
  • Yellowstone National Park, and
  • Yosemite National Park.

National Arbor Day and Take Pride In America

Toyota has been a long-time supporter of the National Arbor Day Foundation and its Arbor Day environmental and tree-planting programs, as well as Take Pride in America, a national program aimed at increasing volunteer service on America’s public lands.

Toyota's SAFETY Initiatives

Toyota Driving Expectations

In 2004, the company developed Toyota Driving Expectations (TDE), a defensive-driving program offered free of charge to teens and their parents. The four-hour course includes interactive classroom study and puts teens in a variety of driving simulations with professional drivers. In addition to emphasizing the dangers of driving distractions, students practice braking techniques, accident avoidance maneuvers and skid control. Since 2004, more than 12,000 teens and parents have participated in these programs. See Video Testimonials at .

Progressive Agriculture Safety Day Programs

Toyota also is proud of its sponsorship of Progressive Agriculture Safety Day programs since 2005. These grassroots education programs are held each year in 350 rural communities throughout the country, particularly in heartland states. The programs focus of farm safety, as well as rural roadway safety.

Frequently Asked Questions about Toyota

Q: Why did Toyota get involved in international education?

A: In the mid-1990s, the concept of “global community” was becoming a reality. Toyota recognized the need for a workforce and society that could think globally and act locally. Since Toyota was already supporting teacher education in the sciences, the company decided to create an international professional development experience for teachers. Toyota highly values education. One teacher reaches hundreds of students every year. At the core of Toyota's business philosophy is “respect for people” and “continuous improvement,” and this program exemplifies that philosophy in every respect.

Q: What does Toyota hope teachers will gain from participating in this program?

A: The Toyota International Teacher Program helps teachers build an understanding of cultural and environmental conservation at the school and community level, while encouraging integration of environmental and cultural themes in all teaching disciplines.

As mentioned above, teachers participating on the Galapagos tour are also now eligible to receive Continuing Education Units through the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Q: What does Toyota hope to gain from sponsoring this program?

A: The Toyota International Teacher Program is in alignment with the The Toyota Earth Charter, which incorporates environmental best practices and education throughout all of the company’s global operations. At the community level, our teacher program promotes similar ideals by fostering:

  • Ambassadors for international education
  • Ambassadors for global and local environmental conservation
  • Teachers learning first-hand that the issues we face in the U.S. are faced by countries and people everywhere
  • Student understanding and respect for the environment and for the diversity of cultures

Q: Why is it necessary for teachers to travel abroad?

A: The workforce and the next generation need different tools and experiences to function in the new “global community.” The Toyota International Teacher Program strives to expose teachers to the diversity and ecosystems of program countries and to inspire creative teaching of international, cultural and environmental themes in U.S. schools and communities.

Q: What is the cost of the program to Toyota?

A: The Toyota International Teacher Program is funded through a $1.2 million annual grant.

Q: What is the total number of teachers who have participated in the program?

A: More than 500 educators have participated to date.

Q: What do the teachers do while on location?

A: For U.S. and Galapagueño teachers traveling to the Galapagos Islands, they discuss best practices about incorporating environmental themes into all subject areas. In Costa Rica, teachers learn about sustainable farming, biodiversity preservation and the balance between humans and nature.

Q: How are program participants selected?

A: Toyota teamed up with The Institute of International Education (IIE) in Washington, D.C., the nation's most experienced non-profit international exchange organization, to administer the program. In addition to organizing and executing each tour, IIE selects program participants through a competitive, merit-based process, which involves review by an appointed panel of distinguished secondary-level teachers, administrators and members of the educational community.

Q: What is Toyota’s location selection rationale?

A: Because of Toyota’s heritage, Japan was the first destination of the Toyota International Teacher Program, and the only one until 2006. It was that year Toyota decided to expand the increasingly popular and successful program to include two additional countries. With Hispanics comprising more than 14 percent of the U.S. population, Toyota felt it was important to offer learning experiences about Spanish societies that are at the forefront of environmental awareness as well.

The Galapagos Islands were selected because of Toyota's involvement after the Jessica oil spill in 2001, at which time the World Wildlife Fund invited Toyota to help develop a new energy blueprint there. Costa Rica was selected because of its high education standards (highest literacy rates among Latin American countries) and its proximity to the U.S. for building closer, ongoing relationships between American and Costa Rican educators. Both countries offer rich ecosystems, where conservation and sustainability are critical.

Q: What is the UC Santa Barbara Bren School 's relationship with the program?

A: In 2008, the program formed a new partnership with the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara, allowing teachers participating in the Galapagos tour to be eligible for official Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from this university. A Bren School professor accompanies teachers on the trip and conducts their evaluations for certification.

The Toyota International Teacher Program is one of many community involvement programs with which Toyota is involved in the U.S. These efforts focus on three principle areas: education, the environment and driving safety, and include:

  • Toyota Community Scholars
  • National Center for Family Literacy
  • Toyota TAPESTRY
  • Scholarship Opportunities
  • National Public Lands Day
  • Arbor Day
  • Toyota Driving Expectations
  • Toyota USA Foundation
  • Toyota Volunteers