Enter to Win Indy Dream Weekend 2012

You've always dreamt of it...Being a VIP at one of stock car racing's most historic and significant tracks. Here's your chance! Enter the 2012 Sweepstakes to be a part of this all-inclusive weekend for two. You and a guest will enjoy all-access passes at the Sprint Cup race in Indianapolis, IN on July 29, 2012. You will also enjoy an at-the-track meet and greet with some of stock car racing's historic figures, tour the garages of the speedway, and watch the race from a trackside suite with a chance to also visit victory lane!

Check out Hendrickcars.com to enter the sweepstakes today or click HERE to fill out your entry.

Toyota 100 Cars for Good returning for 2012!

At the Chicago Auto Show today, Toyota announced the return of its “100 Cars for Good” program. For the second straight year, Toyota will award 100 vehicles over the course of 100 days to 100 U.S. nonprofit organizations, with winners selected through public voting on the Toyota Facebook page. Applications for the program will open on March 12, 2012 at http://www.facebook.com/toyota. Visit us at @ToyotaofWilmNC on Twitter or on Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/toyotascionofwilmington for more information.

The announcement was made by Michael Rouse, vice president of philanthropy and community affairs for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., who was accompanied by some of the nonprofits that received vehicles in last year’s 100 Cars for Good program.

“At Toyota, we appreciate what a big difference a new car can make for organizations working to improve lives and strengthen communities across the country, and we are thrilled to have this opportunity to lend a hand,” said Rouse. “Over the last 20 years, Toyota has contributed more than half a billion dollars to nonprofits throughout the U.S. 100 Cars for Good allows us to build on that commitment in important, new ways by making the public an integral part of these efforts and harnessing the power of social media to expand awareness and galvanize support for organizations that are having such a tremendous impact in neighborhoods nationwide.”

A 2011 winner of a new Toyota Sienna, the Chicago Zoological Society, also spoke at the announcement.

“We are very appreciative of this tremendous donation from Toyota,” said Stuart Strahl, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Chicago Zoological Society. “The new van has been invaluable in our efforts to bring our conservation and informal science education programs to under-resourced communities throughout Chicago and the suburbs. Our dedicated staff travels year round to these communities, inspiring families to gain an appreciation of nature and wildlife, not only globally, but also in their own backyards. We have also used the minivan to transport young students to the zoo and field locations as part of the Society’s award-winning Youth Volunteer Corps.”

In communities across the country, vehicles from the first year of 100 Cars for Good are making a significant difference. These include:

• Supporting the efforts of Canines for Service here in Wilmington, North Carolina to train and deliver service dogs to wounded veterans and those with special needs.
• Ensuring that a soup kitchen in Morristown, New Jersey can pick up food donations that used to be turned away due to a lack of transportation, allowing it to provide meals and food to even more people in need;
• Helping a program near Detroit provide horseback riding visits for kids with cancer.

Toyota adds second shift for production of the 2012 Corolla

Toyota Mississippi Begins Second Shift

BLUE SPRINGS, Miss. (February 6, 2012) –Toyota added a second shift for production of the Corolla, the world’s best-selling car of all time. Approximately 2,000 people are employed at the plant site.

“Adding a second shift is a significant milestone for us,” said David Copenhaver, vice president of administration at TMMMS. “Our team members’ strong work ethic and focus on quality and safety has begun to pay dividends for Corolla customers across North America as we continue production ramp up through spring.”

TMMMS is Toyota’s fourteenth North American plant, further advancing the company’s efforts to design, develop and build vehicles where they are sold. The plant is an $800 million investment and has the annual capacity to produce 150,000 Corollas.

Toyota’s direct total employment in the U.S. is now nearly 31,000. And according to a Center For Automotive Research study, Toyota’s direct employment, plus its dealership network in the U.S., contributes to the support of more than 365,000 jobs nationally with compensation of over $20 billion.

Photo shoot to benefit our friends at Canines for Service

Our friends at Canines for Service and the StarNews will be taking dog photographs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the StarNews, 1003 S. 17th St., as a fundraiser for the Canines for Service Walk for Those Who Can't. Donations are only $25 for each dog photographed and Owners will receive digital photos of their dogs via email. 

We at Toyota Scion of Wilmington were proud to present a new Toyota Sienna to Carolina Canines for Service on Monday, Nov. 14, 2011 as part of the Toyota 100 Cars for Good program. The new vehicle will be used to transport civilians and wounded veterans with disabilities as they receive trained service dogs and learn to work with their new four-legged partners. The Sienna has also been specially modified as a BraunAbility, or rampvan, to make the vehicle wheelchair accessible for clients.Canines for Service provides trained service dogs to wounded warriors and disabled civilians free of charge. 

The Walk for Those Who Can't will be held March 24 at Hugh MacRae Park in Wilmington. Registration starts at 9 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m. To register, form a team or get more information about the walk, visit www.walkforthosewhocant.org.