WASHINGTON D.C. (June 24, 2015) — The House and Senate sent their best aces and sluggers to the baseball diamond Thursday – swinging their bats, flashing some leather and tearing around the bases at the annual Congressional Baseball Game.

When the dust finally settled, the Republicans took the game from the Democrats with a score of 8-7. But it was Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Girl Scouts of the USA who were the real winners, thanks in part to Toyota.

“Toyota is thrilled to support this year’s Congressional Baseball Game with our friends from Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Girl Scouts of the USA, two organizations with which we share a common commitment to helping our nation’s youth become tomorrow’s leaders,” said Al Smith, Group Vice President, Service Operations & Corporate Planning, Toyota Financial Services. “To enjoy the excitement of the game while celebrating the successes of such promising young people – it’s truly special.” 
 
Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Youth of the Year and Toyota
Toyota awarded a new Corolla and $5,000 to cover expenses associated with car ownership to Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s 2015-16 National Youth of the Year, Whitney Stewart as part of Toyota’s multi-year partnership in support of the youth leadership program. 

Stewart, who is from Sarasota, Fla., was selected for her service and leadership in her community, academic excellence and dedication to living a healthy lifestyle. While in high school, she attained the rank of Junior R.O.T.C. Regimental Commander, her school’s top leadership position, and started SEED to SOIL, an educational club which focuses on healthy lifestyles and sustainable agriculture. Stewart recently completed her freshman year at the University of Pennsylvania, where she is majoring in political science with a minor in economics, and has plans to become an attorney in the Air Force, followed by a career in politics and academia.

“As the National Youth of the Year, I am proud to represent the nearly four million kids and teens who are part of Boys & Girls Clubs across the country,” said Stewart. “Thanks to Toyota’s support of the Youth of the Year program, I’ve received scholarships that have made my college dream a reality. Now, I am especially excited to drive my new Toyota Corolla!”

“With the generous support of partners like Toyota, we’re able to provide Boys & Girls Clubs youth with opportunities they may not otherwise have,” said Julie Teer, Chief Development & Public Affairs Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “The Youth of the Year program positively impacts thousands of incredible kids and teens, like Whitney, to help build leadership skills and put them on the path to a great future.”

Toyota is the Signature Sponsor of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Youth of the Year program, and this is the sixth year that the company has donated a new Corolla to the national winner. Learn more at www.YouthoftheYear.org.
 
Girl Scouts of the USA and Toyota Financial Services (TFS)
TFS’s Al Smith joined Lynn Gangone, a member of Girl Scouts of the USA National Board of Directors and local Girl Scouts from the Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital council at home plate to talk about the importance of financial literacy and their partnership in developing “Driving My Financial Future,” a multi-year initiative to make financial education accessible to tens of thousands of Girl Scouts nationwide. Learn more at this link.

“Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) greatly appreciates and values the generous financial support of Toyota Financial Services (TFS), which enables us to extend the reach of its financial literacy programming to 26,000 underserved girls across the country,” said Gangone. “Through the ‘Driving My Financial Future’ program, GSUSA and TFS provide girls with knowledge, tools and resources to raise their confidence in financial decision-making and to build their financial skills.”