Toyota USA Foundation will provide grants of up to $5.7 million to prepare students in Fayette County, Scott County, and the Ignite Institute in Northern Kentucky for future science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers. The Driving Possibilities initiative focuses on PreK-12 education to ensure all students have access to rewarding careers, including opportunities in the auto industry.
In Lexington, the program will involve Arlington, Mary Todd, Northern, and Russell Cave elementaries, Winburn Middle, and Bryan Station High School.
“Driving Possibilities is a profound commitment to the holistic development of our students, schools, and the vibrant communities that embrace them. With Toyota’s leadership, we are
embarking on a grassroots initiative to dismantle economic and educational barriers,” said Demetrus Liggins, superintendent of Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS). “Our unwavering goal is to cultivate opportunities for every student and family by dismantling obstacles. We look forward to this partnership and the impact it will have for generations to come.”
The long-term initiative’s phased approach, which offers programming in specific schools based on input from district leaders, aims to close educational gaps through innovative, hands-on STEM programming while addressing the essential needs of students and families. Driving Possibilities in Kentucky centers on three key areas designed to expand literacy and language resources, build education and industry partnerships, and address transportation barriers.
“Our goal is to increase awareness of future STEM careers while helping build sustainable programs in the communities where our Toyota team members live and work,” said Tellis Bethel, group vice president of social innovation for Toyota, whose largest manufacturing plant is in Georgetown. “With $1.2 million in its first year and more to come in the years ahead, we are excited to expand Driving Possibilities here in Kentucky.”
In 2022, the Toyota USA Foundation announced Driving Possibilities, a $110 million national, career readiness and community engagement initiative. With efforts across the PreK-12 education continuum, the program is the largest and most comprehensive in Toyota’s history. The initiative is funded by Toyota USA Foundation, Toyota Motor North America, and Toyota Financial Services.
This article appears on pages 8-9 of the August 2023 issue of Hamburg Journal. To subscribe to the full digital edition, click here.
