Take Pride in America® and Toyota Take Voluntour Across America to the Heartland

Nationwide trip to promote volunteerism on public lands

(Washington, D.C.) --

Take Pride in America® is continuing a nationwide trip promoting volunteer service on public lands. This next leg of the Toyota-sponsored “Voluntour Across America,” tagged the “Heartland Voluntour,” features Take Pride in America staff traveling in a Toyota Highlander through six states over 15 days and participating in ten events.

“As we voluntour through the heartland, we look forward to bringing national attention to these important local events and shining a light on the vital role of volunteers on public lands,” said Katie Loovis, Executive Director, Take Pride in America.

This year, the Voluntour Across America has already logged more than 5,200 miles, as Take Pride in America staff traveled through the Southeast and West Coast in a Toyota hybrid participating in a wide range of events.

“At Toyota, we operate under a company-created global earth charter that promotes environmental responsibility throughout our entire company,” said Michael Rouse, Toyota corporate manager of philanthropy and community affairs. “We are also committed to preserving the environment through strong partnerships with organizations like Take Pride in America.”

Heartland Voluntour Schedule:

Saturday, September 13, 2008 - Mound City, Missouri
Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Work Day

Monday, September 15, 2008 - Johnston, Iowa
Saylorville Lake Visit

Tuesday, September 16, 2008 - West Des Moines, Iowa
Take Pride in America School Visit with Dowling Catholic High School

Tuesday, September 16, 2008 - Prairie City, Iowa
Environmental Education Program at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge

Thursday, September 18, 2008 - Winona, Minnesota
Site visit with Cochran-Fountain City Future Farmers of America at the Upper Mississippi Refuge

Saturday, September 20, 2008 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Kids in Nature Family Hike of the Ice Age Trail

Saturday, September 20, 2008 - Madison, Wisconsin
Brooklyn State Wildlife Area Volunteer Event

Tuesday, September 23, 2008 - Columbus, Ohio
Keep Columbus Beautiful Ohio State University Event

Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - Oak Harbor, Ohio
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Visit

Saturday, September 27, 2008 - Erlanger, Kentucky
Toyota National Public Lands Day Event & Service Nation Day of Action

About Take Pride:
Take Pride in America® is a national partnership program administered by the Department of the Interior and authorized by Congress to promote the appreciation and stewardship of public lands. Take Pride in America is active in all 50 states, has partnerships with public, private, and nonprofit organizations, and features Clint Eastwood as national spokesman. Citizen stewards know and count on Take Pride in America for the most comprehensive online portal of public lands volunteer opportunities and for showcasing the most outstanding public lands stewardship activities through the annual national award ceremony. For more information, visit www.TakePride.gov.

About Toyota:
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion in the United States, marketing products and services through a network of 1,427 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers in 49 states. Established in 1957, TMS and its subsidiaries also are involved in distribution logistics, motorsports, and research and development. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com.

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Nationwide trip to promote volunteerism on public lands

Heartland Voluntour Schedule: