Toyota Foundation awards $80K to Puerto Rico groups
Mario Dávila, president of Toyota de Puerto Rico.
Environmental education programs, organizations struggling to rescue endangered species and community proposals to combat illegal dumps, are some of the initiatives that Toyota Foundation will support this year through its environmental grant program, awarding $80,000 to various organizations Tuesday.
This year the donations are being granted to five organizations with a high commitment to and ongoing work with environmental, education and community causes said Mario Dávila, president of Toyota de Puerto Rico, on hand for the awards ceremony.
This year’s beneficiaries include: the Caribbean Stranding Network, which received a donation for a vehicle that will be used to transport rescued endangered species; the Vieques Conservation and Historical Trust, which received a contribution for its science and environment education project for students in Vieques; Madre Tierra Atabey received a grant for the second phase of its “Cucubano” educational project, an initiative that seeks to educate about pollution and air toxins.
The grants also benefited the Barrio Palmas Association for Community and Youth, which received a contribution for the Caño Blanco Bridge restoration project that aims to reduce and eliminate illegal dumps; and the U.S. Green Building Council, Caribbean Chapter, which received a donation to provide training seminars on environmental protection and sustainability.
“After 15 years of existence of the Toyota Foundation, we have seen the result of the work of organizations such as the ones receiving donations today and have become increasingly convinced of the importance of supporting entities passionate about this great cause,” Dávila said.
The awards ceremony was held at the Taller de Fotoperiodismo in Puerta de Tierra, one of Toyota Foundation’s many beneficiaries. In 2009, Toyota struck a partnership with the organization to develop the “Lente Verde” project, through which it adopted two schools and some 30 students to participate in a photojournalism and technology project focused on the environment.
“The many projects we support at the Toyota Foundation have something in common: they all reiterate that educational partnerships are the most powerful tool we have to protect our resources,” Dávila said.
So far, the Toyota Foundation has granted more than $1 million to more than 80 nonprofits dedicated to furthering environmental projects and causes.
