On May 19, the Board of Trustees of Plano ISD honored Toyota with a commendation for its remarkable donation of $1,000,000 to the Academy Programs of Plano via the Plano ISD Education Foundation.
Karla Oliver, the assistant superintendent for government, community, and planning initiatives, presented the accolade during the school board meeting.
“It is my pleasure to introduce our new corporate sponsor representing the Plano ISD Education Foundation and the Academy Programs of Plano,” Ms. Oliver stated. “This significant financial support will enhance innovative learning experiences within our Academy Programs. These initiatives enable our district to cater to a broader spectrum of student interests and requirements. By embracing progress in financial management while diligently managing taxpayer investment, Plano ISD is dedicated to ensuring the success of the Academy Programs through corporate and community philanthropy facilitated by the Education Foundation.”
Ms. Oliver introduced two representatives from Toyota North America: Javier Moreno, the manager of external affairs and communications, and Michael Rouse, the vice president of diversity, philanthropy, and community affairs, as well as the president of the Toyota U.S.A. Foundation.
Mr. Rouse remarked, “This donation is significant for us; we have never given such a large sum to a single campus before. It symbolizes a heartfelt commitment and reflects our desire for a long-term partnership.” He further emphasized Toyota’s dedication to STEM education, noting, “There are numerous students interested in engineering here. This collaboration will enable our team leaders to participate directly with students—some of our engineers will engage with them on robotics and other engineering projects, which they are enthusiastic about.”
“The position of your Academy High School aligns perfectly with the leadership needed to tackle the current educational revolution,” Mr. Rouse added. “Texas is at the forefront of an energy revolution, driving the demand for manufacturing and, subsequently, engineers. As we establish our new headquarters in Plano, we take pride in partnering with an innovative leader like yourselves. We believe this collaboration will flourish, and we are eager to contribute for years to come.”
During the meeting, Javier Moreno presented a video titled “Hello, Texas,” which detailed Toyota’s contribution to the Academy Programs. In the video, Jim Lentz, the CEO of Toyota North America, remarked, “Consolidating our corporate headquarters will undoubtedly foster exciting new opportunities for our employees.”
Above are pictured: Harvey Fishero, president of the Plano ISD Education Foundation; Karla Oliver, assistant superintendent; Rebecca Egelston Caso, past-president; Jeanine Alpert, executive director; Lynn Ojeda, principal of Plano ISD Academy High School; Michael Rouse, vice president at Toyota; and Javier Moreno, manager of external affairs.
For further details, visit the original article at www.pisd.edu/news/archive/2014-15/toyota.recognition.shtml
