Toyota Gives $1 Million to Torrance, 4 Area Agencies
In its largest contribution to the South Bay community, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. on Wednesday pledged $1 million to the city of Torrance, two hospitals in the city and two community agencies. The money will be paid out over a five-year period.
Yukiyasu Togo, president of the Torrance-based American subsidiary of the Japanese auto giant, called the gifts a commitment “to supporting organizations that benefit our employees and the communities where we do business.”
The city will receive half of the Toyota money--$500,000--to help pay for its $12-million Theater and Cultural Arts Center, which will break ground today at the Civic Center. The center will include a 500-seat theater and 400-seat community hall.
In other gifts, $200,000 will go to the Volunteer Center, which assists people in finding help through agencies and individuals. Grants of $100,000 apiece will go to Little Company of Mary Hospital, Torrance Memorial Medical Center and the Torrance-South Bay YMCA. Toyota has previously given a total of $225,000 to the two hospitals and the YMCA.
Uses for Money
Leaders of the city and the four organizations received checks for one-fifth of the money during a presentation at the Torrance Marriott Hotel. The Volunteer Center, which rents a building owned by the city of Torrance, will apply its Toyota gift toward purchase of a building. Little Company of Mary will use its money for a $300,000 Center for Cancer Control, an outpatient facility that will open in June near the Del Amo shopping center.
Torrance Memorial will put its money into an ongoing $20.4-million building program, which includes a completed cardiac catheterization laboratory, a 468-seat health conference center that opens this month, an ambulatory care center that will be built starting this spring and an extended care center.
The YMCA will use its $100,000 to complete its family health fitness center started in 1985. New additions will include space for child care, counseling and administrative offices.
Toyota moved its U.S. corporate headquarters to Torrance in 1967, occupying a converted warehouse. In 1984, the company opened a $100-million complex and is building a research and development center in the city.
Torrance Mayor Katy Geissert said the $500,000 from Toyota is the largest single donation ever made to the city, adding, “I’m excited and pleased for the community.”
Jean Beecher, chairman of the Torrance Memorial board, called the gift to the hospital “very, very thoughtful.”
And Jim Fucile, president of the Volunteer Center board, declared:
“Oh, what a feeling.”
