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March 31, 2005
TMMK names its Top Volunteers for 2004
Frankfort Native One of Five Named
Georgetown, KY (HNN) - Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) honored five of its team members Saturday, March 5, 2005 during the company's annual Volunteers In Place (VIP) Recognition Dinner at the Lafayette Club in Lexington, Ky.
The VIP program was developed in 1994 to encourage and recognize team member volunteer work while supporting TMMK's operating principles and firm commitment to good corporate citizenship. Through the years, Toyota's program has become an important volunteer network to respond to needs in the communities where TMMK team members live. About 1,000 team members took part in the VIP program in 2004, donating almost 36,000 man-hours to various communities.
"We all know how difficult it is to balance work, family, and community commitments," stated Gary Convis, President of TMMK. "Somehow our VIP team members put in a full schedule at work and still have time to unselfishly give back to their communities. They represent the best of TMMK and the best of our community."
TMMK's Melissa Galloway was the recipient of the TMMK President's Award as the 2004 Volunteer of the Year. Melissa came to TMMK in 1995 where she started out in the paint department. In 2000, she accepted an assistant staff position in the Production Control – Trial Parts Ordering group where she continues to work today.
Galloway spent more than 900 hours volunteering for various non-profit organizations such as Eastern Elementary Governor's Cup Academic Team, Sharing Thanksgiving Program, Share the Joy Program, KET Telefund, Children's Miracle Network Telethon, March of Dimes Walk America, American Heart Association's Heart Walk, and American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. In addition, Galloway, and her son, Joey, have fostered 27 kittens through the Scott County Humane Society "Foster Cat" program. In honor of Galloway's effort, TMMK donated $3,000 to the Scott County Humane Society.
TMMK also honored Lisa Gilliam, Karen Hendren, Myrna Lawrence, and Kim Sweazy for their volunteer efforts.
Gilliam, who came to work at TMMK in 1989, holds an Administrative Team Member position in the Plastics department and was recognized as a Top 5 Volunteer for the second year in a row. Gilliam, also a native of Georgetown, was honored for her volunteer efforts with several different organizations including the annual Special Olympics' Polar Bear Plunge (Lexington Team Captain), the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, the annual Firefighters Toy Auction, Toys for Tots campaign, Fellowship of Christian Firefighters and the Susan G. Komen Pink Tie Gala. She is also a strong supporter of the Hope Center's Women's Recovery Program and Hope Sister program. On behalf of Gilliam, the Hope Center received a $1,500 donation from TMMK.
Hendren, a Specialist in the Community Relations section at the Georgetown plant, was honored as a Top 5 Volunteer in 2002 and was named Volunteer of the Year last year. Many organizations have been recipients of Hendren's commitment to ending animal suffering. A few of the non-profit organizations she has extended her volunteer hours to include the Wolf Run Wildlife Refuge and Educational Facility, Lexington Humane Society, Best Friends Animal Society, and Kentucky Coalition for Animal Protection, where she has participated in helping to change the laws that protect our animals in Kentucky. A native of Lexington, Hendren also participated in several company sponsored volunteer events. In honor of her volunteer activity, TMMK donated $1,500 to the Wolf Run Wildlife Refuge and Educational Facility.
Lawrence joined TMMK in 1989 and is a team member in the Quality Control Audit Lab. She was the recipient of the 2001 Volunteer of the Year and has also been a Top 5 finalist in 2000, 2002, 2003 and now 2004. She volunteers numerous hours with the Scott County Kiwanis Club, where she has participated in many projects. In addition, Lawrence participated in many TMMK sponsored events, such as, Alzheimers Association's Memory Walk, American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, KET's Telefund, Children’s Miracle Network Telethon, and Toyota's National Public Lands Day. An organization that is dear to Myrna's heart is the Scott County Habitat for Humanity. She is a former Habitat Board of Director and helped frame and roof many homes. On behalf of Lawrence, Scott County Habitat for Humanity received a $1,500 donation from TMMK.
Sweazy, who joined TMMK in 1989 as a team member in Body Weld, is currently a Specialist in Community Relations. A prolific volunteer, Sweazy was selected as the Volunteer of the Year in 1995. The Frankfort native followed that up with being named a Top 5 Volunteer for 1997, 1998, 1999 and now 2004. Sweazy volunteered with 15 different non-profits last year. Some of them including serving as Committee Chair for the Toyota MS-150 Bike the Bluegrass, to benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Society,Advisory Board Member and volunteer for the Dream Factory of Louisville, Board Member and volunteer of the Explorium of Lexington, committee member for The Komen Race for the Cure's Pink Tie Gala, and Board Member for Project One, a school-based, faith-based educational organization that serves disadvantaged youth. In honor of Sweazy's efforts, TMMK donated $1,500 to Project One.
TMMK is located in Georgetown, Kentucky and is Toyota's largest North American plant employing over 7,000 team members.
