Toyota's primary philanthropic focus is education, with a strong emphasis on environment and safety. Annually, Toyota U.S.A. contributes more than $57 million to U.S. programs. Toyota offers three major programs that support teachers with grants and students with scholarships; Toyota TAPESTRY, the largest K-12 science teacher grant program of its kind in the U.S.; Toyota Community Scholars, which provides 100 scholarships to high school seniors based on academics and community service and the Toyota International Teacher Program.

Toyota also supports scholarships through the Hispanic Scholarship Fund; United Negro College Fund; Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation; National FFA and the American Indian College Fund.

For more information, visit www.toyota.com/community.

Toyota strongly believes that in today's global society, international education and understanding are critical to success. In 1998, Toyota partnered with the Institute of International Education to develop its first study abroad program for U.S. teachers in Japan. Now in its tenth year, the Toyota International Teacher Program has funded more than 500 teachers on international professional development study visits to Costa Rica, the Galapagos Islands, and Japan. The Toyota International Teacher Program continues to evolve, in 2009 it will offer a study opportunity for full time teachers and teacher-librarians of grades 6-12 to study environmental solutions in a new area of the world.

Now in its third year, the Toyota International Teacher Program to the Costa Rica will travel April 18 - May 2, 2009. Full time teachers and teacher librarians in grades 6-12 are encouraged to apply for this fully funded international professional development opportunity.