Toyota announces gift to UTSA's Institute of Texan Cultures
(April 29, 2003)--Toyota Motor Manufacturing today announced a gift to the Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC) at The University of Texas at San Antonio to help financially struggling schools fund field trips to ITC.
The donation is Toyota's first gift to the community, after the Feb. 10 announcement at ITC that it would build its next North American assembly plant in San Antonio.
As a result of the Toyota gift, the first "Toyota Education Express" buses arrived today at ITC carrying students from a group of schools from the South Side of San Antonio.
Toyota's $15,000 gift to start the program was matched by two San Antonio Toyota dealerships. Since the Institute opened 35 years ago, more than 2 million students have learned about the cultures of Texas through educational visits to ITC.
Pictured in the top photo are Wayne Jones, general manager of Universal Toyota; Ronnie Bernal, general manager of Red McCombs Toyota, Jim Wiseman, vice president for external affairs for Toyota Motor Manufacturing; and Ricardo Romo, UTSA president.
In the lower photo, schoolchildren who arrived on the first Toyota Education Express bus autograph a poster of the bus.
"This gift acknowledges our sincere appreciation to the Institute for hosting our February announcement and supports education in San Antonio and South Texas," said Wiseman. "Toyota is committed to supporting the community -- particularly education -- and we hope to expand our philanthropic efforts when we have our local team selected and produce the first trucks in San Antonio."
"Toyota's support of the Institute and education is a model for future success, as schools and universities depend on corporate support to provide access to quality education,” said Ricardo Romo, president of UTSA and a member of Team Toyota, the local group that worked with the manufacturer as it selected San Antonio for its next plant.
"Toyota is about teamwork, and today's announcement is a perfect model of local businesses and corporations combining their efforts to open doors to educational opportunities for larger numbers of school children," added Romo.
"Through this generous gift, ITC can expand its educational and outreach mission to children in San Antonio and the region," said Rex Ball, executive director of ITC. "Toyota's support will help ITC continue to provide top-quality educational opportunities for our local students."
The two San Antonio dealerships that matched the Toyota gift are Red McCombs Toyota and Universal Toyota. Each dealership's general manager was at ITC to welcome children on the "Toyota Education Express" buses.
Funds for additional "Toyota Education Express" buses will be available to local schools beginning in the fall 2003 semester. Teachers and school districts should apply for the funds by contacting ITC. Awards will be made to qualifying schools on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information, call the Institute of Texan Cultures at (210) 458-2300.
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© The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2003