Legal Aid Named A Finalist in Toyota's 2012 100 Cars For Good Program

May 31, 2012 - PRLog -- Toyota Donating 100 Cars to 100 Nonprofits in 100 Days –
Public to Choose the Winners on Facebook

Legal Aid Would Use New Toyota Vehicle to Help Low-Income Oklahomans

Vote for Legal Aid on Saturday, July 7th at https://apps.facebook.com/carsforgood/

Oklahoma City, OK – May 30, 2012 – Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma announced today that it has been selected as one of 500 nonprofit finalists in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program, a major philanthropic initiative in which the automaker is giving 100 cars to 100 nonprofit organizations over the course of 100 days.  Legal Aid was selected as a finalist from more than 4,000 applications nationwide.

Each day, beginning May 14, 2012, 100 Cars for Good has profiled five finalists at www.100carsforgood.com.   Individual members of the public are able to vote for the nonprofit they think can do the most good with a new vehicle.  The nonprofit with the most votes at the end of each day will win one of six Toyota models.  Runners-up will each receive a $1,000 cash grant from Toyota.

Legal Aid’s proposal for utilizing the car to benefit more Oklahomans will be up for consideration on Saturday, July 7 from 9 am to 11 pm (CST.)  Check out our video at https://apps.facebook.com/carsforgood/ - search 'legal aid' or see it on YouTube http://youtu.be/VakWM1H_H-Q



“Everyone at Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma is thrilled to have been selected as a finalist for the 2012 100 Cars for Good program,” said Executive Director Michael Figgins.  “We’re grateful for this incredible opportunity to showcase the need for civil legal services among elderly and low-income Oklahomans. Hopefully we will win a new Prius making working with clients in each corner of the state more efficient for us. We hope everyone will help us spread the word now and, of course, will make time to visit www.100carsforgood.com on Saturday, July 7 to vote for us.  A new vehicle would really be a game changer for our ability to serve more needy Oklahomans.”

“At Toyota, we appreciate what a significant impact a new car can have for nonprofits nationwide,” noted Michael Rouse, vice president of philanthropy for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.  “Toyota has donated more than half a billion dollars to nonprofits across the U.S. over the past 20 years, and 100 Cars for Good allows us to expand that commitment to local communities in important new ways.  The 500 finalists are an extraordinary group, and we look forward to the public learning more about them.”

100 Cars for Good is the first initiative to directly engage the public to determine how Toyota’s philanthropic donations are awarded.  

For more information on Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma and its efforts to win one of Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good, please visit our website at http://www.legalaidok.org.  LIKE us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/legalaidok and follow us on Twitter @LegalAidSvcs_OK.  For complete information on 100 Cars for Good and profiles of all 500 finalists, please visit www.100carsforgood.com.

Everyone is encouraged to support Legal Aid and its quest for a new Toyota Prius. If Legal Aid receives the most votes and is awarded the vehicle, it will be used to provide reliable and efficient transportation for the delivery of justice to low-income Oklahomans in all 77 counties.

A six-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty will also be provided for each vehicle, compliments of Toyota Financial Services.

About Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma
Legal Aid is a statewide not-for-profit law firm which provides free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income individuals, families and to elderly and disabled persons in the areas of domestic violence, consumer scams, housing, health and employment.  Legal Aid attorneys and staff work through a network of 21 fully-staffed law offices and satellite offices, serving eligible clients in all 77 counties of Oklahoma.       
Funding for Legal Aid is from the Legal Services Corporation, the State of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Bar Foundation, 14 United Way and United Fund organizations and generous attorneys, law firms, foundations, businesses and individuals throughout the state contributing to the Campaign for Justice.

About Toyota
Toyota  established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants in eight states. Toyota directly employs nearly 30,000 people in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $18 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design facilities. Toyota's annual purchasing of parts, materials, goods and services from U.S. suppliers totals more than $23 billion.

Toyota is deeply committed to being a great community partner and is focused on supporting programs in ways that achieve long-term sustainable results. Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, with a particular concentration on education, the environment and safety. Since 1991, Toyota has contributed more than half a billion dollars to philanthropic programs across the U.S.

For more information on Toyota, please visit http://www.toyota.com

About Toyota Financial Services (TFS)
TFS is the finance and insurance brand for Toyota and Lexus in the U.S., offering retail auto financing and leasing through Toyota Motor Credit Corporation (TMCC) and Toyota Lease Trust and extended service contracts and other payment protection products through Toyota Motor Insurance Services (TMIS). TFS employs 3,300 associates nationwide, and has managed assets totaling more than $91 billion. It is part of a worldwide network of comprehensive financial services offered by Toyota Financial Services Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation.

Media Contact:       
Michael Figgins, Executive Director
Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma
405.488.6768
michael.figgins@laok.org