Toyota Honors Five Team Members for Distinguished Volunteer Efforts
- Georgetown Native Named Top Volunteer -
GEORGETOWN, Ky. (February 17, 2001)  Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) honored five team members for their outstanding volunteer efforts and community service during 2000. Their recognition came during TMMK's Annual Volunteers In Place (VIP) Awards Dinner held at the Lafayette Club in Lexington this past Saturday, February 17, 2001.
Dan Rusch, a Team Member in Facilities Control, was named TMMK's Volunteer of the Year for 2000. Dan donated much of his volunteer time to the Boy Scouts of America (Troop 215), which he has been involved with for nine years. A native of Georgetown, Rusch spends his time with troop meetings, fundraisers, summer camps, and trips. In addition, he also assists with Scott County Youth Football where he has served as Equipment Manager and Fundraising Chairman for the Touchdown Club.
Rusch joined TMMK's Volunteers-In-Place (VIP) program in 1998. In just three years, he has recorded over two-thousand hours of volunteer work, including 516 hours last year. Dan has also worked with the Scott County School System's 4-H Camp and has participated in fundraising activities for Habitat for Humanity.
TMMK President and CEO, Masamoto "Matt" Amezawa, presented the Boys Scouts of America, Troop 75, with a check in Dan Rusch's name for $2,500.00.
TMMK's VIP program is designed to make it easy for team members to volunteer for charitable organizations in the communities where they live. It also organizes group volunteer opportunities throughout Kentucky.
Four other honorees were presented $1,000.00 each to donate to organizations of their choice. Myrna Lawrence, a Team Member in Quality Control, has been with TMMK since 1989. A native of Georgetown, Myrna spends her volunteer time with Scott County Habitat for Humanity and is in charge of the Women's Build program, which will begin construction of its third house this year. She has recorded over 560 volunteer hours since fall of 1998, with more than 430 hours worked last year.
Joe Hamm, a Team Leader in Quality Control, was given a $1000.00 donation for the Harrison County Baseball Boosters. Hamm joined TMMK in 1988 and is no stranger to TMMK's VIP program. He was TMMK's Volunteer of the Year in 1998 and placed among the top five VIP's in 1997 and 1999. Joe is in charge of the youth baseball program in Harrison County, assisting with all aspects of the league. A native of Cynthiana, he also serves as the overall assistant for the Harrison County Recreation Department youth basketball league and works with other youth activities such as Project Graduation and the Beta Club. Joe also dedicates time to food collection and distribution programs for the needy families in his area. Since 1995, Joe has recorded over 2,700 hours of volunteer work, including 702 hours last year.
Bill Conner, a Group Leader in Assembly 1 and a native of Frankfort, Ky., joined TMMK in 1989. Bill donates most of his volunteer time to the Kentucky Amateur Athletics Union. He is involved in coaching, as well as assisting and instructing other coaches in the league. This program allows children throughout the community to participate in AAU-level sports. Bill also works with the Frankfort Parks and Recreation Department. Over the last two years, Bill has recorded over 460 hours of volunteer work through the VIP program, with more than 300 of those hours recorded last year.
Pat Gant, a Team Leader in Paint 2 Maintenance, was named to the Top Five VIP's for the second year in a row. The Paris native devotes many of his volunteer hours to the Boy Scouts of America. As Scoutmaster for Troop 67, Pat spends his time with troop meetings, camp-outs, training and fundraisers. He also volunteers his time assisting with Little League Baseball. Pat recorded over 1,000 hours of volunteer service last year.
"The VIP Program is very important to TMMK because it supports the company's values related to being a good corporate citizen, giving back to the communities where our team members work and live," said Tom Zawacki, who presided over the VIP Recognition Dinner. Zawacki is General Manager of General Administration at TMMK. One section of that department, Community Relations, is in charge of TMMK's VIP Program.
TMMK is located in Georgetown, Kentucky, and produces the Camry and Avalon sedans and the Sienna minivan.