Toyota Receives Environmental Award on Earth Day

Team Members from TMMK accept the 2004 Kentucky Quality Commission 2004 Earth Day Award (Left to right: Pete Gritton, Tom Zawacki, Gordon Garner-KEQC, Gary Convis, Jeff Klocke, Kim Shelton, Carl Kurz)

GEORGETOWN, KENTUCKY, (April 22, 2004) — The Kentucky Environmental Quality Commission honored TMMK, TMMNA and its team members on Earth Day for actions they have taken to protect the Commonwealth's environment. The awards ceremony was held in the Governor's Mansion in Frankfort, and Gov. Ernie Fletcher briefly thanked the award winners for their support of environmental initiatives.

As one of 16 award recipients, TMMK was recognized specifically for reducing landfill use and air emissions and for its EARTH CARE environmental program.

In accepting the award on behalf of TMMK, President Gary Convis congratulated the other recipients – which included author and environmentalist Wendell Berry.

"All of you make Kentucky a great place to live and raise our families," he said.

Convis also said TMMK's state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and Toyota’s investment in technology allow us to be leaders in environmental protection.

"Toyota invests a great deal of money to make that happen," he said. "I'm extremely proud of TMMK – we promise to work very hard to protect the environment."

The EQC is a seven-member citizen board created under state law. Its mission is to facilitate public discussion and resolution of environmental issues, monitor environmental trends and conditions, promote partnerships to protect the environment for future generations and serve as an advisory board to the governor on environmental matters.

"Toyota deserves recognition for its efforts to minimize its impact to the environment," stated Gordon Garner, a member of the Kentucky Environmental Quality Commission. "The company clearly demonstrates that the automobile industry can be environmentally responsible while producing top of the line vehicles and a strong bottom line. TMMK has initiated a number of measures through its EARTH CARE program and has also partnered on several community and state initiatives to protect the environment."

The EQC Earth Day Award is given annually to groups, businesses, schools or individuals through open nominations.

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Contact:
Rick Hesterberg
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc.
(502) 868-2135