BLUE SPRINGS, Miss., (Sept. 22, 2012) – For the fifth consecutive year, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi, Inc., (TMMMS) team members and their families teamed up with the local community to support National Public Lands Day (NPLD). This year’s activity drew approximately 700 Toyota team members and their families who volunteered at Howard Stafford Park in Pontotoc. They performed painting, planting, trash clean-up, installation of new fire pits and a new walking track around the park’s lake.

National Public Lands Day, which began in 1994, is the nation’s largest volunteer event for public lands across America. Last year, more than 200,000 volunteers worked at 2,067 sites in every state, the District of Columbia and in many U.S. territories to improve the quality of life for thousands of Americas.

“I’m proud because Toyota Mississippi had the most volunteers for National Public Land Day among any Toyota plant in the country,” said Masa Hamaguchi, president of TMMMS. “We were able to show everyone in the community why Toyota Mississippi always looks for the best way, using our pioneer spirit.”

“Howard Stafford Park was built with joy and hope, and after 40 long years, the park is showing its age,” said Pontotoc Mayor Jeff Stafford, which bears his father’s name. “It took hard work to build this beautiful park and it will take a team effort to revive it. I’m truly touched by the huge number of Toyota volunteers and their family members with us today, who have made a tremendous difference in the lives of many who will continue to come to this park for future generations.”

For 14 years, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., has been the national corporate sponsor of the National Education Foundation NPLD and has encouraged its employees to get involved in activities across the nation. Last year, more than 3,100 Toyota volunteers participated at 40 different public land areas in 20 states and U.S. territories.