Toyota has given $100,000 to the Huron River Watershed Council for its Bioreserve Project. The project is using teams of volunteers to map out the natural areas that are left in along the Huron River which winds through southeast Michigan and cuts through the city of Ann Arbor. Toyota has its U.S. Technical Center in Ann Arbor just north of the river. Much of the area adjacent to the river has been developed in recent decades. The Bioreserve Project will assess the ecological value of remaining open areas and prioritize the which zones need protection. The HWRC has a goal of raising $250,000 for the project, of which over $230,500 has now been raised.
[Source: Toyota]
May 8, 2008 - The Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) is announcing major support from Toyota Motor North America, Inc. and the Toyota Technical Center (TTC) in the amount of $100,000 for the Bioreserve Project.
Building on the fundraising efforts made through Liz Swims the Huron, HRWC has secured a total of $230,500 towards the project total of $250,000, which include; $43,000 in donations from individuals to Liz Swims The Huron; $5,000 from Keybank; $65,000 from Community Foundation of SE Michigan; $7,500 from Visteon; $7,000 from Speckhard-Knight Charitable Foundation and $3,000 from TCF Bank.
The Bioreserve Project will map the last remaining open spaces in the watershed and assess their ecologic "value." This project will allow HRWC to work with local governments, private landholders, businesses, and the state to develop methods to protect these valuable lands.
Last week HRWC launched a major phase of its Bioreserve Project, the Field Assessments Phase. HRWC will lead teams of volunteers out into the watershed's remaining natural areas to perform rapid field assessments. The natural areas will then receive a score based on the findings.
HRWC Executive Director Laura Rubin is quoted as saying "Toyota's support takes us within reach of our goals and will help protect the watershed now and for generations to come."
Toyota Statement on the Environment: At Toyota, we're constantly working to reduce our impact on the environment. Our Global Earth Charter promotes environmental responsibility across the entire organization. Not just in our products and operations, but also through our partnerships with organizations in the communities in which we live and work. The way we see it, the more effort we put in, the less waste we'll turn out.
Toyota Technical Center (TTC) is the R&D division of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing, NA. TTC is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan and is responsible for vehicle development of Toyota vehicles specifically designed for the North American market (ie.Venza, Tundra, Sienna, Avalon, Solara). TTC employs over 1000 engineers and technicians and conducts vehicle design engineering, vehicle evaluation, materials engineering and evaluation, powertrain tuning and regulatory certification, and advanced research. TTC is currently expanding and is in the process of constructing an additional 500,000 square feet of office and technical facilities at a second campus located on 700 acres in York Township just south of Ann Arbor. The building construction representing a $187 million investment will be completed in the summer of 2008.
Sign in to post
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Continue