Toyota is celebrating more than a decade's support of Australia's largest annual tree planting and nature care event, National Tree Day, with some of this country's biggest celebrities, media personalities and sports stars.
2012 marks Toyota's 13th year of support for the nationwide campaign which encourages communities to help preserve the environment for future generations. Toyota Ambassadors backing the drive this year are:
• Adam Goodes - Captain of the Sydney Swans (AFL)
• Bob Corbett - Country musician and 2012 Toyota Star Maker
• Brad McEwan - Sports presenter and media personality
• Johnathan Thurston - Captain of the North Queensland Cowboys (NRL) and Origin Star
• Jonathan Brown - Captain of the Brisbane Lions (AFL)
• Kerri-Anne Kennerley - Media personality
• Lee Kernaghan - Country music legend
• Luke Hodge - Captain of the Hawthorn Hawks (AFL)
• The McClymonts (Brooke, Sam and Mollie) - Country musicians
• Tim Webster - Sports presenter and broadcaster
The sponsorship of National Tree Day sees Toyota's entire network of more than 200 dealers across the country mobilised to support, participate in, and lead planting activity in their local area. Last year, thousands of Australians planted over 1 million native trees, shrubs and grasses.
Toyota Manager Events, Promotions & Sponsorships, Andrew Wearing says: "Toyota has proudly sponsored National Tree Day since 2000 as part of its global commitment to sustainability. Our successful, long-standing partnership with Planet Ark can be attributed to our unique grassroots approach; enabling dealerships across Australia to make a real difference in their own community."
Spokesperson for Planet Ark, Rebecca Gilling adds: "Toyota has helped Planet Ark build on National Tree Day's success year-on-year. Its ongoing commitment to the cause and leading community involvement gives individuals, families and local groups the opportunity to do their bit for the environment."
National Tree Day (Sunday, 29 July) and Schools Tree Day (Friday, 27 July) have been responsible for the planting of more than 17 million native trees and shrubs by approximately 2.5 million volunteers over the years.
Toyota is an industry leader in environmental research and technologies, pioneering the world's first mass-produced hybrid vehicle in 1997.
Recent research* by Planet Ark, and sponsored by Toyota reveals 8 in 10 (77%) Australians believe hybrid technology provides a more sustainable energy source, and 4 in 10 (38%) have considered purchasing and driving a hybrid vehicle. One of the benefits of owning a hybrid is a reduction of one's impact on the environment, followed by low fuel consumption.
For more information about National Tree Day visit:
treeday.planetark.org
Toyota.com.au/tree-day
Twitter.com/toyota_aus
Facebook.com/toyota.aus
