Youth Challenge named a finalist in Toyota’s 100 Cars For Good program

Westlake-based Youth Challenge (YC) 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 nonprofits over the course of 100 days. Youth Challenge was selected as a finalist from more than 4,000 applications nationwide.

Each day since May 14, 100 Cars for Good has been profiling five finalists at www.100carsforgood.com. Individual members of the public will be able to vote for which ever 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.

Youth Challenge will be up for consideration on Sunday, June 10, from 10 a.m. to midnight.

Residents are encouraged to support YC and their quest for a new Toyota Sienna Mobility (equipped for wheelchair access). If Youth Challenge receives the most votes and is awarded the vehicle, it will be used to transport participants – children with physical disabilities – back and forth to YC programs. 

“Everyone at Youth Challenge is thrilled to have been selected as a finalist for the 2012 100 Cars for Good program,” said Mary Sue Tanis, founder and executive director of Youth Challenge. “We’re grateful for this incredible opportunity to showcase our mission and hopefully win a mobility van to help us increase our impact in Northeast Ohio.

"We hope everyone will help us spread the word now and, of course, will make time to visit www.100carsforgood.com on Sunday, June 10, to vote for us. A new vehicle would really be a game changer in our ability to transport even more children with physical disabilities to our adapted sports programs. Ninety-five percent of the children we serve each year use YC's transportation, which is offered at no cost. Last year alone YC provided more than 5,200 van rides.”

Michael Rouse, vice president of philanthropy for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., stated: “At Toyota, we appreciate what a significant impact a new car can have for nonprofits nationwide. 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.”

Please visit www.100carsforgood.com on June 10, 2012 to vote for Youth Challenge.

For more information on Youth Challenge and its efforts to win one of Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good, please visit www.youthchallengesports.com or follow YC on Facebook.