Toyota Joins Forces with America Supports You to Show Support for the Troops

Toyota Joins Forces with America Supports You to Show Support for the Troops

Auto Manufacturer to Add "America Supports You" to its Grassroots Initiatives

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., announced its plans to join America Supports You, a Department of Defense program that recognizes citizens' that stand behind members of the U.S. Armed Services and their families, to demonstrate support for the troops with Toyota's 2007 grassroots marketing programs.

Toyota, a long-time supporter of U.S. military-support programs, plans to connect its sponsorship and partner alliance programs with America Supports You efforts. Programs incorporating America Supports You initiatives include B.A.S.S. (Bass Anglers Sportsman's Society), a property of ESPN Outdoors; Bass Pro Shops retail locations; country music stars Brooks & Dunn tour stops; and the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team.

"We are really pleased that Toyota is using their very successful grassroots programs to connect Americans to the hundreds of ways they can support our troops and their families," says Allison Barber, Deputy Assistant Director of Defense for Public Affairs and founder of America Supports You. "We also recognize and thank Toyota for their ongoing support of our military through programs like 'Hire-a-Hero,' which provides employment opportunities for returning National Guardsmen and Reservists. And we're thrilled Toyota is joining our America Supports You team to do even more for our service members."

In addition to the Hire-A-Hero program, Toyota recently made a donation totaling $1.65 million over five years to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, which will endow 16 scholarships for the children of Marines killed or wounded in action.

"We have a civic duty to keep our troops top of mind as they defend our freedoms," said Don Esmond, Toyota's Senior Vice President and former Marine Corps helicopter pilot. Esmond, recipient of the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart, added, "Toyota is happy to help bring the America Supports You message to the public through these key, grassroots partnerships."

PRO CYCLING RACES

Program support from Toyota will come from a variety of efforts including signage on all of the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team pace and chase Prius vehicles, as well as the vehicle entourage, team bus and equipment trailers. The team calendar cards and Web site will also promote the ASY message. Planned meet and greets with the team at local races and team ride-alongs along the way will include some returning veterans and their families.

"When we were first approached about this initiative for Toyota, we said 'we're absolutely in,'" said Sean Tucker, owner of the Toyota-United team. "It only further punctuated how committed our partners at Toyota are to giving back to the communities we serve. It makes perfect sense, and we wanted to be a major part of this effort."

BASS FISHING TOURNAMENTS AND BASS PRO SHOPS

Toyota will include its BASS and Bass Pro Shops relationships to help get the message out to key audiences with angler autograph cards and website messaging. This includes the grassroots traveling mobile-marketing program called the "Tundra Outdoor Tour." It stops at local Bass Pro Shops mega- retail stores and features Toyota's professional angler team following the Bassmaster Elite Series Tournament Trail. Programs include the sport's winningest angler, Kevin Van Dam; the 2006 Angler of the Year, Michael "Ike" Iaconelli; and other top team anglers Greg "The Hack Attack" Hackney, Terry "Big Show" Scroggins and Dave Wolak, 2005 Toyota Rookie of the Year.

"I don't take for granted the thousands of military personnel around the world sacrificing so we can live our dreams and enjoy the very freedom they help preserve. I'm proud of the job they do and proud to be part of Toyota's involvement with the America Supports You program," concluded Hackney.

COUNTRY MUSIC TOURS

Toyota's sponsorship of country music superstars Brooks & Dunn's 2007 tour will also feature America Supports You program elements in onsite events tied to the all-new 2007 Toyota Tundra. The award-winning duo's first major tour stop began in California at the inaugural "Stagecoach Festival" in Indio, a two-day festival presented by Toyota.

"We've always been big supporters of our military men and women," said Clarence Spalding, President of Spalding Entertainment and manager for Brooks & Dunn. "Kix [Brooks] and Ronnie [Dunn] routinely include a salute to the troops in their concert tour. When Toyota mentioned its plans, we were automatically on board with the idea."

About Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.: Toyota established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants, including one under construction. There are more than 1,400 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealerships in the U.S. which sell more than two million vehicles a year. Toyota directly employs more than 32,000 people in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $13 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design.

About America Supports You: America Supports You is an ongoing, nationwide program organized by the Department of Defense to showcase Americans' support for the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families. Since its launch in November of 2004, the America Supports You program has welcomed nearly 300 homefront organizations and more than 35 corporations to the program. Many America Supports You supporters help the troops through letter writing, care packages, helping the wounded when they return home, assisting military families, sending an email or kind gesture-to learn more about how you can support military personnel please visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil.

Photo: NewsCom:

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070909/CLSU002
AP Archive:

http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

CONTACT: Chad Harp of Toyota, Motor Sales, USA, Inc., +1-310-468-1704,
or Chad_Harp@toyota.com; or Lindsay Mosher of "America Supports You,"
+1-202-414-0788, or lmosher@susandavis.com

Web site: http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/

-------
Profile: intent