---

Toyota USA Foundation Awards $1,115,000 for Science and Math Initiatives

3 November 2000

Toyota USA Foundation Awards $1,115,000 for Science and Math Initiatives

    TORRANCE, Calif., Nov. 3 The Toyota USA Foundation has
approved grants totaling $1,115,000 to fund five education programs designed
to enhance the teaching of K-12 science and math throughout the United States.
    Recipients of the awards include Earth's Birthday Project, Santa Fe, New
Mexico; University of Southern California's Integrated Media Systems Center,
Los Angeles; Thirteen/WNET New York; Bridger Outdoor Science School, Bozeman,
Montana; and Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
    "We're pleased to support these five outstanding organizations in these
new education initiatives," said Yale Gieszl, executive vice president, Toyota
USA Foundation.  "These organizations are developing important, innovative
teaching and learning opportunities for K-12th grade math and science."
    Funding of $185,000 over two years will enable Earth's Birthday Project to
develop the Rainforest Exploration curriculum for fourth and fifth graders.
The curriculum and teachers' guide will include inquiry-based activities and
experiments related to the rainforest ecosystem.
    A grant of $400,000 over three years will allow University of Southern
California's Integrated Media Systems Center to study, evaluate and develop
interactive visualization content materials and tools for high school biology.
These interactive modules will utilize manipulative 3-D representations of
biological objects and processes.
    Thirteen/WNET New York will receive $390,000 over two years to assist
schools in integrating environmental education in their science programs.
Entitled "What's Up in the Environment," this multi-media program will enable
educators and students to make connections with the natural and social
sciences, as well as mathematics, arts and humanities.
    Bridger Outdoor Science School will receive $90,000 over a three-year
period to expand environmental education in rural southwest Montana schools
through a traveling outreach and teacher training program called Ways of the
West.
    A grant of $50,000 will enable the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum to help
elementary teachers meet their science benchmarks with a curriculum called
"Pathways."  "Pathways" are self-directed field trips that will enable
teachers to access and plan pre- and post-visit activities via the Internet
that will enhance the field trip and the classroom experience.

    The Toyota USA Foundation is a $37 million charitable endowment created
and funded by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.  It is dedicated to supporting
innovative educational programs serving kindergarten through 12th grade in the
United States -- with special emphasis on mathematics and science.

    To request an application and guidelines, contact the Toyota USA
Foundation at 19001 S. Western Ave., Torrance, Calif., 90509; call
(310) 618-6766 or visit http://www.toyota.com/foundation.