Toyota USA Foundations announces $6.7 million in grants with Jemison and Lee High Schools as primary focus

Toyota USA Foundation announced late last week at a press conference at Mae Jemison High School that the organization is donating grants of up to $6.7 million over the next five years to prepare Huntsville City Schools’ students for future careers in STEM fields such as science, technology, engineering and math.

The collaboration is part of Toyota’s Driving Possibilities, which is launching in Huntsville as the program’s fifth site. The initiative is based on more than 60 years of active support in Toyota communities across the U.S. and builds off the model previously launched in West Dallas. 

“We’ve been working with leaders from Huntsville City Schools for over a year to bring this moment today,” said Jason Puckett, president of Toyota Alabama. “Every community is unique and that’s why we’ve been very intentional about spending the last year working with school leaders, community organizations and many others to identify areas of need and develop a solid pathway to success.”

Around $2.9 million of the total grant will be available in the program’s first year while the rest will roll out in recurring payments over the next 4 years. The donation is unique in that Driving Possibilities has selected Mae Jemison High School and Lee High School as their primary focus as opposed to spreading the funds across the area.

Alabama’s Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth was in attendance for the press conference to show his support for the Driving Possibilities initiative. 

“This is a huge testament to the fact that [Toyota USA Foundation] loves our community, they believe in our children and want to make sure they are developed for the future,” Ainsworth said.  “Toyota understands the importance of training and preparing our students to fill high-tech, 21st Century jobs by the time they graduate. “

This announcement will support a new industrial tech program at the recently announced Huntsville City Schools Career Tech Center. The program will aim to create a direct pathway for students into high-demand manufacturing careers. The Driving Possibilities initiative is also funding new teacher coaches, training and mentorship at select schools in partnership with the New Teacher Center.

Driving Possibilities focuses on PreK-12 education and builds on existing programs across the country. The long-term initiative’s aim is to close educational gaps for students through innovative, hands-on STEM programming while addressing the essential needs of students and families.

“Toyota understands the importance of training and preparing our students to fill high-tech, 21st Century jobs by the time they graduate,” said Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth. “Alabama consistently ranks among the nation’s leaders in economic development and industrial recruitment, and thanks to generous corporate partners like Toyota, we have the tools necessary to maintain that top ranking for many years to come.”

The Toyota USA Foundation announced Driving Possibilities in 2022 as a $110 million national, career readiness and community engagement initiative. The initiative was launched to prepare youth for the careers of tomorrow.  The program is the largest and most comprehensive in Toyota’s history and is funded by Toyota USA Foundation, Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) and Toyota Financial Services. 

For more information, please visit www.huntsvilleal.gov/videos/toyota-driving-possibilities-with-hcs.