The Toro Company Announces Third and Fourth Quarter Grants
Toro Giving Program awards more than $800,000 in cash and product donations
BLOOMINGTON, Minn., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Toro Giving Program awarded more than $800,000 in cash grants and product donations to 36 organizations during the second half of 2005. The Toro Company (NYSE:TTC) contributes a minimum of two percent of its gross domestic pre-tax profits every year to organizations that preserve the outdoor environment, enhance education, and support communities where Toro employees work, live and play.
"The Toro Giving Program is proud to support nonprofit and educational organizations that lead the way to stronger communities," said Stacy Bogart, director of the Toro Giving Program. "Whether it's funding environmental programs on public television, collaborative research between golf and environmental communities, or students in the nation's leading agronomy programs, the giving program seeks to enrich environments and empower communities."
The Environmental Institute for Golf, which is the philanthropic division of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, was recently awarded an $85,000 grant for research on environmental stewardship in the golf industry. Findings from this research will provide baseline data in the areas of water management, integrated plant management, wildlife and habitat management, design and construction, and energy and waste management.
Developing educational programs in the turf industry was another priority to Toro's Giving Program in the third and fourth quarter. Pennsylvania State University, Michigan State University and Ohio State University collectively received $260,000 in irrigation equipment and monetary support for the schools' turf grass programs. Toro also supported the Center for Resource Management's Lawns and Environment Initiative and the Organic Golf Project in the amount of $35,000.
In addition to monetary support, product donations allow Toro to provide high quality equipment to organizations in need. The YMCA of Metropolitan Minneapolis received a product donation valued at more than $33,000 for camp and facility maintenance, while CommonBond Communities received Toro lawnmowers, trimmers and snow throwers to maintain the grounds of its 20 Twin Cities facilities.
Additional nonprofit organizations awarded grants include: Science Museum of Minnesota, Dodge Nature Center, The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota, Twin Cities Public Television, Bell Museum of Natural History, Great River Greening, and Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.
About the Toro Giving Program
The Toro Giving Program enhances the health and well-being of all Toro communities through active outreach and involvement. The primary giving focus is to support organizations that preserve the outdoor environment. Contributions are also focused on programs that enhance education, health and welfare, culture, the arts, and civic projects. Toro also provides employee volunteer opportunities, and product and in-kind donations.
About The Toro Company
The Toro Company (NYSE:TTC) is a leading worldwide provider of outdoor beautification products, support services and integrated solutions. With sales of $1.8 billion in 2005, Toro is committed to providing environmentally responsible products of customer-valued quality and innovation. Since 1914, the company has built a tradition of excellence around a number of strong brands that serve a customer base that includes golf course superintendents, groundskeepers, sports field managers, landscape and irrigation contractors, fruit and vegetable growers, and homeowners. The Toro Company is headquartered at 8111 Lyndale Avenue in Bloomington, Minn. Visit the company website at www.thetorocompany.com/ .
CONTACT: Judson Tharin, Senior Community Relations Specialist of The Toro Company, +1-952-887-8870, judson.tharin@toro.com
Web site: www.thetorocompany.com/
