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Toyota Donates $50,000 to Alabama Black Colleges

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Toyota donates to black colleges

William Garrett Lewis (ASU Golden Ambassador), Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd (President ASU), Adrienne Trimble (Toyota), Dr. Alvin Cleveland (President Selma University), Mr. Robert Blakely (Tuskegee University), and Zasmine Hymes-Green (ASU Golden Ambassaders) at the Toyota $50,000 donation event for Alabama HBCUs
Photo: AP/Butch Dill

The US recently celebrated an important anniversary in the history of the civil rights movement. Fifty years ago, in 1965, thousands of Americans took part in a march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama—a 54-mile trek—in order to seek voting equality for black Americans. As a result, the Voting Rights Act passed later that year, but the march also had plenty of casualties, particularly on the day that became known as “Bloody Sunday.” Despite this, the march played a vital role in the equal voting rights of black Americans across the country.

In order to celebrate this anniversary, Toyota donated a total of $50,000 to four historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) that played vital roles in the country’s pursuit of civil rights and equality. The four colleges are Alabama State University (ASU), Alabama A&M University, Selma University, and Tuskegee University. A ceremony was held on the ASU campus for the presidents, students, and faculty of each college, and included a check donation ceremony and a luncheon.

“Toyota has a long-standing commitment to the pursuit of education and partnering with historically black colleges and universities,” explained Adrienne Trimble, general manager, Diversity & Inclusion, Toyota North America. “On this historic occasion, we wanted to recognize the four Alabama schools that played an integral part in the march five decades ago. Through this donation, we strive to support each school’s commitment to developing the next generation of leaders and working to make the world a better place.”

This donation follows the recent announcement that Toyota was diversifying its leadership in North America.