Contributions designated to further boost college retention and graduation rates, seen as key to ensuring the fulfillment of Dr. King’s dream for America
TORRANCE, Calif.– In honor of the life and vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Toyota Financial Services (TFS) has announced that it has made a donation totaling $50,000 to five Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs).
The five recipients of a $10,000 TFS donation, Bowie State University, Saint George’s County, Maryland; Delaware State University, Dover, Delaware; Howard University, Washington, D.C.; Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia; and Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland all provide exceptional educational opportunities within many of the communities in which TFS operates.
“While at Morehouse, Dr. King observed that ‘Education must enable a man to become more efficient, to achieve with increasing facility the legitimate goals of life,’” said Mike Groff, TFS president and CEO.
“To help further the principles he so effectively championed, and in keeping with TFS’ deeply held commitment to diversity and inclusion, TFS is honored to support the mission of HBCUs and the dreams they help make possible.”
“In the years since we launched our Making Life Easier program to support education initiatives, after-school programs and financial literacy among underserved youth, TFS has provided millions of dollars in scholarships to deserving students across the nation and our associates have devoted their time and talents to many meaningful national – and community – based programs,” noted John Ridgeway, Corporate Manager, Customer Service Center – East for TFS, who presented the donations to each institution on behalf of the company. “As an extension of our existing relationship with HBCUs, including a partnership with the Toyota Green Initiative, we believe our contribution to these fine institutions will help them with the critical task of addressing issues that impact student retention and will help create a bright future for the populations they serve.”
TFS has been recognized for its longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion, including being named as a DiversityInc Top 50 company for six years in a row and has been consistently recognized by Black Enterprise, Hispanic Business and the Human Rights Campaign as a best company for diversity and best places to work. TFS executives actively support and sponsor the company’s many diversity and inclusion initiatives.
For more on Toyota’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, please visit www.toyota.com/diversity.
