Toyota USA Foundation Awards $790,000 for Math and Science Initiatives
3 May 2000
Toyota USA Foundation Awards $790,000 for Math and Science Initiatives TORRANCE, Calif., May 3 The Toyota USA Foundation has
approved grants totaling $790,000 to fund seven education programs designed to
enhance the teaching of K-12 math and science throughout the United States.
Recipients of the awards include Educational Equity Concepts, New York,
New York; Kentucky Education Development Corporation, Ashland, Kentucky;
Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York; Rochester Institute of
Technology, Rochester, New York; Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut; Food
Works, Montpelier, Vermont; and California Science Center, Los Angeles.
"We're pleased to support these outstanding organizations that seek to
build innovative education programs," said Yale Gieszl, executive vice
president, Toyota USA Foundation. "Each of these initiatives, either already
in place or being developed, addresses critical needs for today's students in
math and science."
Educational Equity Concepts will use its $50,000 grant to support the
national expansion of Playtime is Science for Children with Disabilities. The
grant will be used to develop an interactive, multi-media teacher's guide on
CD-ROM, using modified science experiments and activities.
A $95,000 grant will enable the Kentucky Education Development
Corporation, a cooperative owned and operated by Kentucky school districts, to
implement an accelerated, computerized math program in four Lewis County
schools. Participating teachers will receive training in program
implementation, program management and technology use.
Funding of $150,000 to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) will
support training of 300 K-12 teachers nationwide in four WCS life-science
programs. Designed to build bridges between biology, ecology, physical
science, math and language arts, the programs coordinate in-class activities
with fieldwork in local zoos and other informal science institutions.
The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) will receive $85,000 to
prepare 80 K-12 science teachers in the Rochester area to incorporate
protocols from the GLOBE (Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the
Environment) program. Collaborating with RIT's College of Science are the
Monroe #1 Board of Cooperative Educational Services and lead science teachers
from Rochester area school districts.
A $210,000 award over three years will enable Trinity College, together
with the Greater Hartford Academy for Mathematics and Science, to create and
implement the Toyota USA Physics in Motion program for grades 1 - 6 in Greater
Hartford public grades schools. In addition to the development of new
curriculum with hands-on laboratory experiences, the program will provide
training for 60 teachers.
Funding of $100,000 to Food Works will support a Schoolyard Habitat
Science Program to promote the use of outdoor habitats as learning
laboratories in six Vermont Schools. The grant will include a 10-week
mentorship program for 60 teachers, and a graduate level course designed in
collaboration with Trinity College (Burlington) and Vermont National Wildlife
Federation.
The California Science Center will receive $100,000 to develop two new
Edventures programs -- interactive videoconferencing programs in physics and
aerospace -- to be delivered to Los Angeles schools through the Center's
popular Think SCIENCE! program. Edventures give students access to the
Center's exhibits and educational resources, as well as directed interactive
learning experiences.
The Toyota USA Foundation is a $35 million charitable endowment created
and funded by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. It is dedicated to supporting
innovative educational programs serving kindergarten through 12th grade in the
United States -- with special emphasis on mathematics and science.
To request an application and guidelines, contact the Toyota USA
Foundation at 19001 S. Western Ave., Torrance, Calif., 90509; call
(310) 618-6766; or visit http://www.toyota.com/foundation .