TOYOTA MANAGERS' COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING GLOBAL COMMUNITY

MFMD Letterhead logo

 

 

 

 

TOYOTA MANAGERS REFLECT AUTOMAKER'S COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING GLOBAL COMMUNITY
THROUGH PHILANTHROPY

 

Tracy Underwood-Toyota Resized

 

 

 


	
	


Tracy Underwood, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. national manager of
corporate communications, receives the 2009 Business Leader Award from the
Children Youth & Family Collaborative

  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 


EYM J L Armstrong 

 

 

 


	
	


JL Armstrong, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. national manager of external
affairs, receives the 2009 Humanitarian of the Year Award from Educating
Young Minds

 

  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


TORRANCE, CALIF. (September 23, 2009) - Toyota managers JL Armstrong and
Tracy Underwood remain dedicated to improving humanity through corporate
responsibility even during lean economic times.  

 

As national manager of external affairs for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
(TMS) Armstrong is responsible for Corporate Contributions and Community
Relations.  He spearheads a partnership to provide thousands of new books to
the District of Columbia's public schools and travels the country to
encourage classroom science education through Toyota's TAPESTRY grant
program.  Armstrong additionally serves as Vice Chairman of the National
Environmental Education Foundation. 

 

Nationwide, the auto company annually awards $1 million in scholarships to
100 high school seniors selected as Toyota Community Scholars. Armstrong
oversees the program, which has provided over $14 million in scholarships to
support post-secondary education in the United States.  An ordained minister
with First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles, he believes
the same heart he uses to help others professionally is what also makes a
difference in the pulpit.  

 

"Building meaningful relationships with individuals on a personal level
gives you a true sense of what people really need," said Armstrong.   

 

He recently received the 2009 Humanitarian Award from Educating Young Minds
for years of charitable service on behalf of TMS.  

 

Armstrong and Underwood share the experience of what it takes to be a
community advocate having worked in Toyota's Corporate Contributions
department. Both represent the human side of the corporation and are charged
with managing its societal impact. 

 

Underwood currently oversees strategic planning for Corporate Communications
and plays a key role in the Toyota Driving Expectations program, a defensive
driving course for newly licensed teens and their parents.

 

During the summer months, Underwood worked with more than 600 teens at
Toyota's Southern California headquarters to combat the high rate of
fatalities and accidents among young drivers. 

 

"The program is not just about supplying resources that may change lives,
but also save them," adds Underwood, Toyota's national manager of corporate
communications.  

 

She travels near and far to expose American students and teachers to diverse
cultures and has fostered relationships with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund,
Los Angeles Urban League and the Special Olympics.  

 

Hitting the pavement to bring awareness to causes supporting cancer and AIDS
research is welcome from the active mother of two, who has encouraged TMS
corporate volunteerism for events like the Revlon RUN/Walk for Women.  

 

The Children's Youth and Family Collaborative honored Underwood with this
year's Business Leader Award for working alongside numerous charitable
organizations throughout the Southern California area. She was also
recognized by the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce for Excellence in
Diversity Leadership.

 

 "It has always been an honor to support Toyota's commitment to education,
health and human services, community development and the environment," said
Underwood.  "I think it is wonderful to work for a company that believes in
making a positive impact on humanity."

 

About Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. 

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution
and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion.  Established in 1957,
TMS markets products and services through a network of more than 1,400
Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers.  Toyota directly employs more than 34,000
people in the U.S. and sold more than 2.2 million vehicles in 2008.

 

#  #  #

 

Media Contacts:

 

Lauren Tobin

Tobin & Associates, Inc.

818.508.8884

Lauren@tobinpr.com  

 

Tisha Newberry

Tobin & Associates, Inc.

818.508.8884

tisha@tobinpr.com

 

 

Tisha Newberry-