Video: Toyota Grants To North MS Schools

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MISS. (WCBI) – In 2007 Toyota committed to donating fifty million dollars over a ten year period towards enhancing education in three North Mississippi Counties. Toyota continues making good on that commitment. Today [Thursday] Toyota dispersed one million dollars to the Create Foundation. The monies were further divided.

With eyes focused on a 50 million dollar check, the eager education officials welcomed the 4th installment now totaling 20 million dollars given to the Create Foundation.

“But out of that twenty million we pulled a million out and we’ve dispersed grants totaling one million dollars to all the school districts in Pontotoc, Union, and Lee County,” said Doug Formby, Toyota Blue Springs.

Tupelo Superintendent Gearl Loden’s hands were out, receiving $203,000 in support of educating children in his district. Funds are being used for projects that are not a part of the schools annual budget.

“We turned to the school districts to tell us what are the things that you need the most help with to accomplish your mission and so each school district submitted their own grant. And so they were funded on that basis and as you said the funds will continue to grow and provide more funding as we go forward.,” said Mike Clayborne, Create Foundation, President.

Pontotoc School students were there to witness first hand the divvying out of monies for Ipad devices, computer labs and equipment for the classroom and more. It all seems very typical of Toyota’s core values of returning to the communities they do business with.

“Its going to give us the ability to make a difference in children’s lives far beyond the young people we see here today. Perhaps some of their children or grand children. Or whomever else will benefit from this gift,” said Formby.

“Toyota certainly prove what kind of corporate citizen they were in their belief in education by making really an extraordinary gift,” said Clayborne.

With millions being divided up among 8 school districts, everyone benefits.

Grant awards to schools are as follows:

-Pontotoc City Schools $120,000

-Pontotoc County Schools $162,000

-Union County School District $143,000

-New Albany School District $113,000

-Baldwyn School District $ 24,000

-Lee County Schools $204,000

-Nettleton School District $ 38,000

-Tupelo School District $203,000