Toyota Impact Grant Supplies Mobility for Homeless Women and Children in Collin County

In partnership with United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, Toyota declared the winner of its $1 million Impact Grant at a grand opening on the 6^th of July. There are almost 3,000 women in Collin County who are homeless, many of them with young children. Contrary to this, it is an area in which many large companies are located and a lot of new homes are being built. This grant tries to implement a program which aims to create self-sustaining independence for all those women and their children. The winners of the grant are a part of the newly established Collin County Mobility Collaborative. The group of winners includes: Agape Resource and Assistance Center, Family Promise of Collin County, Hope’s Door New Beginning Center, and Shiloh Place of McKinney.

“We created this grant to encourage collaboration among nonprofits with a focus on pressing mobility issues in North Texas,” said Al Smith, group vice president, Social Innovation, Toyota Motor North America.  “This holistic program aims to empower homeless women and their children to overcome crisis and poverty, helping them gain both physical and upward mobility.”

The grant initiative, which was announced in January, signifies mobility for all. It implies engagement of the North Texas community and is Toyota’s national focus. The goal is to enable like-minded partners to work together on mobility issues in the local community.

This program involves efforts in providing constant and safe housing, affordable and reliable transportation, assistance in the progress of youth development and childcare and making better earning through job training, education, job placement and certification.

This grant was initiated by Toyota Motor North America and Toyota Financial Services, administered in partnership with United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. The funds are provided over a two-year period.

“By combining resources and sharing expertise, we can achieve greater collective impact to improve the lives of these women, their children, and generations to come,” said Karen Ideno, vice president of product, marketing, corporate social responsibility and communications, Toyota Financial Services. “We look forward to working with the collaborative, applying assets beyond dollars, to make a difference right here in our new backyard.”

Candidates, whether academic, non-profit, social entrepreneurs or others, were to give their unique ideas and to create new solutions for existing problems all through cooperation. The terms of the grant involved two to five cooperative partners coming together and solving complex matters.

“Solving complex community challenges requires much more than investing in a single program,” said Susan Hoff, chief strategy, impact and operations officer, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “Strong collaborations, such as the Collin County Mobility Collaborative, provide a multi-faceted approach to addressing pervasive and devastating issues through both direct services and systemic interventions.  United Way of Metropolitan Dallas is proud to partner with Toyota to identify effective solutions that will make a lasting difference for families.” Collin County was elected from more than 40 applications.

“Despite the rapid growth of Collin County, there are many women and children in need,” said Janet Collinsworth, founder & executive director, Agape Resource and Assistance Center. “Our approach taps into the strengths of each of our organizations, providing a holistic approach that addresses housing, transportation, childcare, education and support services.  Through this effort our hope is not only to empower these women, but also to create a model of collaboration with a program that can be replicated.”