Toyota Celebrates 10-Year Partnership With Michigan Habitat For Humanity

August 25, 2017 by Toyota

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Aug. 25, 2017 – Toyota Motor North America Research & Development (TMNA R&D) is doubling its impact with Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley (Habitat Huron Valley) by providing full house renovation funding for two houses, totaling $80,000, for two Ypsilanti single moms. More than 300 volunteers this year will help renovate the two homes in honor of the 10-year partnership between the two.

'The continued commitment of Toyota to help renovate homes is invaluable in our work toward creating affordable homeownership in Washtenaw County,' said Sarah Stanton, Executive Director of Habitat Huron Valley. 'Toyota's investment in our organization has made a tremendous local impact on our communities. Toyota's strong support has helped us grow from building a handful of houses 30 years ago to renovating 19 houses and providing home improvements to an additional 1,000 existing homeowners this year.'

Since 2007, Toyota Motor North America Research & Development has helped build or renovate 11 homes in Ypsilanti, Mich. They have donated more than $386,800 and have given more than 17,000 employee volunteer hours with Habitat Huron Valley. This year, TMNA R&D doubled its impact with more than 300 employees volunteering for more than 1,800 hours at the houses.

Additionally, Toyota Motor North America Research & Development has also provided a representative to serve on the Habitat Huron Valley Board of Directors and additional Habitat committees, such as the Family Selection Committee, for the past 5 years.

'Toyota and Habitat Huron Valley have strengthened bonds between co-workers, made lasting friendships and picked up a new skill or two on build days,' said Charan Lota, Executive Manager Toyota Motor North America R&D and Habitat Huron Valley Board Member. 'We look forward to continuing this relationship for years to come. Thank you to Habitat Huron Valley for the opportunity to make a difference. We value our strong partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley and nationally.'

In celebration of Toyota Motor North America Research & Development 40th Anniversary here in Michigan, they are sponsoring the future homes of two single moms, Adriana Pence and Tiffany Cole. Pence and 6-year-old daughter Ysela moved to Michigan in 2013. Pence is employed by the University of Michigan and loves spending time swimming, coloring and playing dolls with Ysela. Cole is mom to 1-year-old Jeremiah and currently expecting a daughter due this month. Like all Habitat homeowners, Pence and Cole are each required to complete 250 'sweat equity' hours, attend financial management and home maintenance classes and provide a $1,000 down payment on their homes.

With the help of full-house sponsors, such as Toyota Motor North America Research & Development, Habitat Huron Valley is hoping to renovate 19 houses in Washtenaw County for local low-income families and individuals who are qualified and approved for the Habitat Home Ownership Program in fiscal year 2018.

About Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley

Established in 1989, Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley has built or renovated over 200 homes in Washtenaw County. Habitat homeowners qualify for a no profit mortgage from Habitat, make a $1,000 down payment, and put in at least 250 hours (per adult household member) of 'sweat equity' building their home. Habitat has expanded to provide home improvement projects to low-income families in neighborhoods we already target, providing over 500 such projects since 2011. For more information, visit www.h4h.org.

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About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for 60 years, and

is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus

brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have contributed

to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 33 million cars and trucks in North

America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than

46,000 people (more than 36,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in

the U.S.) sold almost 2.7 million cars and trucks (2.45 million in the U.S.) in 2016 – and about 85 percent

of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 15 years are still on the road today.

Toyota partners with community, civic, academic, and governmental organizations to address our

society's most pressing mobility challenges. We share company resources and extensive know-how to

support non-profits to help expand their ability to assist more people move more places. For more

information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

About Toyota Motor North America Research & Development

Toyota Motor North America Research & Development (TMNA R&D) aims to redefine next-generation cars as not simply a form of transportation, but as a fully connected vehicles. In fact, Toyota is the leader in automotive patents, including autonomous vehicle patents (over 2,000). Centered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Toyota puts the brightest thinkers from all across America together to focus on letting people live more safely and comfortably. Globally, Toyota spends approximately $1 million per hour on R&D to ensure that Toyota rapidly and continuously develops cutting-edge, high-quality, and appealing vehicles.