Toyota announces $1 million grant to fight flexibility challenges in North Texas

Toyota announced a $1 million impact grant to help mobility challenges in North Texas in partnership with United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. It will be accessible for non-profits, social entrepreneurs and academic institutions. The grant, a cooperative program between Toyota Motor North America and Toyota Financial Services, needs cooperation between up to five organization.

“By engaging multiple local partners on a single issue, we can build on ideas, pool resources and achieve greater impact in the communities we serve,” said Mike Goss, general manager, Toyota Social Innovation. “The initiative is part of larger community programming aimed at creating public-private partnerships to solve societal issues.”

This grant provides funds to implement a two-year-long program. It is aimed toward social and transportation mobility issues. It is necessary for the applicants to examine the scalability of their own programs. In the first year of the grant, recipients will have the opportunity to partner with Toyota to achieve advanced results.

“We believe that new technologies and approaches can increase access to mobility for underserved communities, low income including seniors and people with disabilities, and that access to reliable, safe, affordable transport systems has direct social, equality and economic implications,” said Karen Ideno, vice president of product, marketing, corporate social responsibility and communications, Toyota Financial Services. “By tapping into organizations on the ground through a collaborative approach to innovation, we can foster real change and improve quality of life in our communities.”

According to recent figures, The Dallas Fort Worth metroplex is the second-fastest growing metro in the nation.

“We are proud to partner with Toyota to implement a unique program aimed at accelerating positive change in the community­­­­,” said Jennifer Sampson, president and CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “With nearly one third of residents in North Texas one crisis away from financial distress, finding new and innovative ways to address mobility is critical. Toyota’s leadership will amplify our collective ability to make a more secure and meaningful future for everyone in our region.”