Company-Wide Food Drive, Coloring Contest Highlight the Holiday Season

Brett Wood, president of Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc. congratulates Melanie Pearlman, winner of Toyota’s electronic holiday card contest. 

IRVINE, Calif., (December 14, 2009) – Toyota Material Handling U.S.A., Inc. (TMHU), today announced that as a result of its associate giving programs, more than three tons of food and goods will be donated to local food banks in the areas where Toyota employees reside and work—Orange County, Calif., and Columbus, Ind.

"Toyota is extremely pleased with the results of our food drive," said Alan Cseresznyak, senior vice president of administration for TMHU. "The generous amount of food donated by our associates will go a long way in providing basic essentials to those in need."

Toyota has long supported associate giving programs, food bank and community-related contributions. This year, Irvine-based TMHU associates/contractors contributed 2,671 pounds of food, which will benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County. Columbus, Ind.-based TMHU associates/contractors donated 3,401 pounds of food to the Love Chapel of Columbus, which provides a food pantry to ensure people of the community are provided with the basic amenities.

In other holiday news, in lieu of printing holiday cards Toyota made a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization that grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

In addition, Melanie Pearlman, daughter of TMHU associate David Pearlman, is the winner of the company electronic holiday card contest. Pearlman’s coloring rendition of a Toyota lift truck giving an extra "lift" to Santa by helping him transport presents is featured in the company’s holiday card, distributed nationwide to its customers, suppliers and associates. Pearlman, 12, a budding artist, resides in Fountain Valley, Calif.

About Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc.

Celebrating more than 40 years of established operations in the United States, Irvine, Calif.-based TMHU has been the No. 1 selling lift truck supplier in the U.S. since 2002 and currently offers a full line of high-quality lift trucks sold under the Toyota brand. TMHU, as the sole United States distributor for Aichi, now offers a line-up of aerial work lifts, including scissor lifts, crawler and wheeled boom lifts designed specifically to meet a wide range of indoor and outdoor needs.

Built on a reputation of excellence, Toyota remains the industry leader due to its quality, durability and reliability. Quality is the hallmark of Toyota’s world-renowned Toyota Production System practiced at all Toyota manufacturing facilities, including Toyota Industrial Equipment Mfg., Inc. (TIEM). Most of the Toyota lift trucks sold in the United States are manufactured at TIEM, a zero-landfill facility, in Columbus, Ind.

TIEM, and all Toyota manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Canada, comply with the ISO 14001 standard from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and have been honored for their environmental management systems and dedication to continuous improvement.

Toyota’s commitment to excellence in customer service extends nationwide. Sixty-eight authorized Toyota Industrial Equipment dealers, with a total of 188 dealership locations throughout the United States offer comprehensive customer service and support, including one-stop shopping for both new and used lift trucks, rentals, parts and service, fleet servicing and financing.