BLUE SPRINGS, Miss. (June 19, 2014) – In the aftermath of the April 28 tornado that struck Northeast Mississippi, Toyota asked how they could help those in need. The answer shaped itself in the form of almost $86,000 donated by Toyota, near site suppliers and team members.
 
Toyota Mississippi and its team members collectively donated more than $35,000 to volunteer organizations responding to tornado relief efforts in North Mississippi. The donation included a company donation of $20,000 to the Northeast Mississippi Chapter of the American Red Cross and $15,000 from Toyota team members and the company’s dollar-for-dollar donation match program.
 
“We are very proud of our team members for their outpouring of support and generosity following the tornado this spring,” said Sean Suggs, vice president at Toyota Mississippi. “Our team members genuinely care about the welfare of others, and I am humbled to work beside each of them.”

Supplier donations totaled $23,000 with giving ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per company. Toyota Boshoku, Systems Automotive Interiors (SAI) and Auto Parts Manufacturing Mississippi (APMM) each donated $5,000; Diversity Vuteq donated $4,000; and Toyota Tsusho America, Blue Springs Metals, Magnolia Automotive Services and Green Metals each donated $1,000.
 
“I am very proud of our suppliers for the work they have done,” said Masafumi Hamaguchi, Toyota Mississippi president. “Toyota, our suppliers and team members worked as one team to help people in need and to support local communities as they heal.”
 
In addition to monetary donations, Toyota and supplier team members volunteered 1,445 hours of personal time removing debris from damaged areas. Volunteer hours account for approximately $27,960 based on a report by the nonprofit organization Independent Sector.