SYLACAUGA, Ala. – On Thursday afternoon, Nov. 3, the Sylacauga City Schools (SCS) Foundation presented Toyota of Sylacauga with the rewards earned from achieving Chair status with the Foundation.
The SCS Foundation unveiled a commemorative, engraved rocking chair as well as a stylized wall plaque mounted alongside the other Chair members in the Sylacauga High School (SHS) main concourse.
Also on display was the October sales check which the dealership presented to the Foundation. October’s total was $1,620.
That brings the total amount Toyota has donated to $33,780.
Since January of last year, Toyota has donated $30 for every new car sold off the dealership’s lot.
John Parrish, SCS Foundation board member, spoke on behalf of the Foundation at the presentation.
“The Foundation’s work focuses on raising funds that are granted back to the teachers to enhance the educational experience at Sylacauga City Schools,” said Parrish. “The most distinguished recognition we can give is to recognize someone for a Chair [status].”
Parrish explained that in order to earn this status, any entity, group, organization, or individual must donate at least $25,000 to the Foundation.
“Toyota of Sylacauga has done this and more,” Parrish remarked. “Today, we celebrate their commitment to education and to the children of Sylacauga.”
General Manager of Toyota of Sylacauga, Chris Cain, accepted the awards on behalf of the dealership.
“It is fulfilling and rewarding to share back with kids and students, to give back to the community, and to be a part of the community,” said Cain. “We are so thankful to be able to do what we’ve done. To come into those classrooms and see what that money is being used for, it couldn’t be any more rewarding to any of us.”
The majority of the funding had been specifically going towards purchasing science-related lab equipment and teaching manipulatives, but now all proceeds will go into the general fund.
“We thank Sylacauga,” expressed Cain. “We want to be here for the future. We want to do more. We want more programs, and we want to keep giving back to the community.”
The SCS Foundation was founded in 1988. Its mission statement is “to enrich the quality of education for students by providing financial support to classroom teachers and programs.”
