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Toyota Presents New Prius to Breast Cancer Awareness Organization

**Toyota presents new Prius to Broward Urban League local Breast Cancer Awareness organization**
**BY RICH POLLACK**

Nadine Robinson was at the National Urban League’s Annual Conference this summer in Fort Lauderdale and waiting in line to sit in on a live broadcast of the Tom Joyner Morning Show when a representative of Toyota approached her.

The woman told Robinson that the company was giving away a Prius during the conference and all she would have to do was go online to Instagram and upload a video explaining what she would do with the car.

There was just one problem. Robinson, who is co-founder of a fledgling breast cancer awareness organization for women of color — Save The Twinz — had no clue how to post anything on Instagram.

The woman from Toyota took time to help create a video in which Robinson explained that she and the co-founder of the organization — Belvit Jordan — would use the Prius to take women of color who lacked transportation to chemotherapy treatment.

The video played a key role in Robinson selection by Toyota as the winner a new 2016 Prius, which was delivered to her earlier this week.

Robinson said she never expected to win the car and was startled when a Toyota representative took the stage at the conference’s Saturday night gala and announced she had been selected to receive the vehicle.

“It never occurred to me that I had won,” Robinson says. “The fact that I was a finalist was enough.”

The Prius, which was presented to the representative from Save The Twinz at Lipton Toyota on Tuesday, was actually the second one donated by Toyota and delivered by the Fort Lauderdale dealership in just the last few weeks.

In late October, Dr. Germaine Smith-Baugh, president and CEO of the Urban League of Broward County was at Lipton Toyota, along with several other Urban League representatives to receive another Prius presented to the organization by Toyota.

That Prius, Smith-Baugh says, will be used to help provide transportation for individuals served by the Urban League and will also be used by the Urban Leagues staff as it raises awareness and provides services to residents throughout the county.

The two donations are in large part the result of a long-standing relationship forged between the National Urban League and Toyota Motor Sales, the U.S. arm of the automaker.

For more than 20 years, Toyota has served as a sponsor of the National Urban League’s Annual Conference. In addition, Toyota employees serve on the organization’s national board and on local boards. The company also works with Urban League affiliates nationwide to launch significant education, job training and scholarship programs for young people.

As part of its commitment to the Urban League, Toyota has been giving 13 vehicles to selected Urban League affiliate around the country.

“We want to build more than just great cars,” says Tammie Kanda, director of special programs and events for Toyota Motor Sales, who was in Fort Lauderdale to help present Robinson with her Prius. “We want to help build beautiful places to live. By working with our community partners, we drive a better world for all.”

Smith-Baugh believes the local chapter was selected to receive a vehicle after Toyota representatives had an opportunity to visit and tour the Urban League’s Community Empowerment Center.

“They recognized the quality of work that is happening here in Broward County,” Smith-Baugh says. “We’re very grateful for Toyota’s ongoing support and for its gift of a safe, reliable and environmentally sound vehicle that will allow us to continue our service to the community.”

Lipton Toyota President Steve Jensen said the dealership is pleased to be able to be a part of the presentation of the two vehicles.

“This is one more example of how Toyota supports local organizations that have a positive impact on the communities they serve,” Jensen says. “At Lipton Toyota, we’re proud of our role in helping several organizations, including those who help in the fight against breast cancer.”

Raising awareness about breast cancer and the importance of periodic mammogram has been the mission of Save The Twinz since the organization was founded in 2011.

“The fact that Toyota is giving us this opportunity is amazing. They are allowing us to be of even greater service to our community” Robinson says. “They’re awesome for doing this.”