Toyota USA Foundation has provided Fulton County Schools (FCS) in Georgia with grants of up to $8.6 million to prepare students for future careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

The collaboration is part of the “Driving Possibilities” initiative and is a five-year phased rollout of programming in select schools.

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

“Driving Possibilities” was launched in 2022. It is funded by Toyota USA Foundation, Toyota Motor North America (TMNA), and Toyota Financial Services (TFS).

“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, Toyota group vice president of social innovation, in a news release. “With nearly $2.3 million in the first year, and more to come in years ahead, we’re looking forward to the expansion of ‘Driving Possibilities’ in the Fulton County area.”

“Driving Possibilities” in Georgia will focus on supporting three areas:

• • Increasing the level of service at existing Student and Family Engagement (SAFE) Centers;
  • Integrating STEM learning with the Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) curriculum to provide additional learning resources to students; and
  • Providing STEM-specific professional development for FCS educators with support from Kennesaw State University.

Located in two FCS high schools, Toyota’s support will expand community resources and services to also include Pre-K to eighth graders at identified schools.

“Georgia is home to crucial Toyota Financial Services and Lexus operations, and we want to demonstrate how much we appreciate our local communities,” said Scott Cooke, Toyota Financial Services president and CEO, in the release. “We consider it a privilege to support Fulton County Schools educators who are providing young people with essential knowledge and skillsets in science, technology, engineering, and math.”

Fulton County Schools is the seventh site to launch “Driving Possibilities” programming, which is based on more than 65 years of active support in Toyota communities across the U.S. and builds off the successful model in West Dallas, according to the release.

In March, Toyota USA Foundation provided grants of up to $9.3 million to schools in Arizona through “Driving Possibilities.” The money is supporting a STEM curriculum pathway for elementary and middle school students. The grants will also help build community resource centers to house after-school and essential services to help provide for students and their families.

Schools in Randolph County and Guilford County, North Carolina also recently received $2 million to identify school feeder patterns and provide project-based, hands-on STEM learning programs. In addition, the program will include professional and leadership development for educators, community engagement, and family support like afterschool programming.

Some of the initiative’s initial funds were distributed to North Gibson School Corp. in southern Indiana to provide access to Pre-K education, resources to support student mental health, multi-language learning, and STEM programs.

An interactive STEM-based playground was unveiled in July as the first completed project for Driving Possibilities Indiana. It features a turf surface with tricycles, stationary school bus, “bank” and “gas station” stops, climbing structures, sensory toys, and a visual board to help nonverbal students communicate.

Images

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