On May 19, the Plano ISD Board of Trustees honored Toyota for its generous donation of $1,000,000 to the Academy Programs of Plano, facilitated through the Plano ISD Education Foundation.
The recognition was presented by Karla Oliver, assistant superintendent for government, community, and planning initiatives, during the school board meeting.
“It is with great pleasure that I introduce our new corporate partner, whose substantial financial support will enhance the innovative educational experiences offered through our Academy Programs of Plano,” Ms. Oliver stated. “These programs enable Plano ISD to cater to a wider range of student interests and requirements. The district is dedicated to being progressive and innovative in our financial strategies while responsibly managing taxpayer funds. We aim to ensure that the Academy Programs flourish through the support of corporations and the community via the Plano ISD Education Foundation.”
Ms. Oliver also welcomed two representatives from Toyota North America: Javier Moreno, manager of external affairs and communications, and Michael Rouse, vice president of diversity, philanthropy and community affairs, who is also the president of the Toyota U.S.A. Foundation.
“This donation holds significant meaning for us; it marks the largest contribution we have made to a single campus, making it a notable milestone in our philanthropic efforts. It symbolizes our commitment and reflects our intent for a lasting partnership,” remarked Mr. Rouse, highlighting the Toyota Foundation’s focus on STEM education. “Many students are interested in engineering, and this collaboration will provide avenues for our team leaders to engage with the school. Some of our engineers will be on-site assisting students on robotics projects and various engineering activities. They truly enjoy working on this.”
“The progress made at Academy High School positions you right at the forefront, enabling us to contribute significantly to the national changes underway,” Mr. Rouse added. “The ongoing energy shift in Texas is driving manufacturing, which in turn increases demand for engineers. With Plano becoming our new base, we take pride in the opportunity to partner with you. This collaboration promises to be incredibly beneficial, and we eagerly anticipate its growth.”
Javier Moreno shared a video titled “Hello, Texas” which highlighted the announcement of Toyota’s donation to the Academy Programs of Plano. In the footage, Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota North America, affirmed, “Consolidating our corporate headquarters is guaranteed to provide exciting new opportunities for our associates.”
Pictured above: Harvey Fishero, president of the Plano ISD Education Foundation; Karla Oliver, assistant superintendent for government, community and planning initiatives; Rebecca Egelston Caso, past president of the Plano ISD Education Foundation; Jeanine Alpert, executive director; Lynn Ojeda, principal of Plano ISD Academy High School; Michael Rouse, vice president of diversity, philanthropy and community affairs at Toyota; Javier Moreno, manager of external affairs and communications at Toyota; and Marta Lilly, administrative assistant of the Plano ISD Education Foundation.
For further details, visit the original article at www.pisd.edu/news/archive/2014-15/toyota.recognition.shtml
