Toro Gives Back: Grants, Employee Fund, Equipment Donations Announced

2006 has started out on with a theme of giving back for The Toro Co. The Bloomington, Minn.-based turf and irrigation equipment manufacturer has recently announced three efforts to benefit local and national organizations, as well as its own employees.

Q3 & Q4 GRANTS. Last week, The Toro Giving Program announced that in late 2005 it awarded more than $800,000 in cash grants and product donations to 36 organizations. Toro contributes a minimum of 2 percent of its gross domestic pre-tax profits every year to organizations that preserve the outdoor environment and support communities where Toro employees live and work.

"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.”

Grants awarded in the third and fourth quarters of 2005 went to these organizations:

• Environmental Institute for Golf: $85,000 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.
• Pennsylvania State University, Michigan State University, Ohio State University: $260,000 collectively in irrigation equipment and monetary support for the schools’ turfgrass programs.
• Center for Resource Mangement Lawns & the Environment Initiative: $35,000
• Organic Golf Project: $35,000
• YMCA of Metropolitan Minneapolis: $33,000 in product donations for camp and facility maintenance
• CommonBond Communities: Toro lawn mowers, trimmers and snow throwers to maintain the grounds of its 20 Twin Cities facilities.

Additional nonprofit organizations awarded grants include the Science Museum of Minnesota, Dodge Nature Center, the Nature Conservancy in Minnesota, Twin Cities Public Television, Bell Museum of Natural History, Great River Greening, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.
 
MOW FOR A CAUSE. In addition to the organizations receiving cash and product grants, Toro partnered with the University of Notre Dame Alumni Association for its second annual “Mow for a Cause” event to late in 2005 to help local non profit organizations beautify their communities. Toro, the official grounds and irrigation equipment supplier for the University of Notre Dame, sponsored the annual community service project as part of the Notre Dame Alumni Association’s Day of Service.

This year’s project included six Notre Dame alumni clubs from across the country, benefiting organizations in Brielle, N.J.; Buffalo, N.Y.; Charlottesville, Va.; Columbia, S.C.; Ocala, Fla.; and South Bend, Ind. Toro supported the project with equipment and supplies to make the cleanup easier.

At the conclusion of this year's Mow for a Cause, two participating alumni clubs were randomly selected by Toro to win one of three prize packages that could be donated to a local Catholic school or charity of their choice. This year's winning clubs were the Notre Dame Club of Greater Charlottesville, who donated a Toro Single Stage Snowthrower and Toro Power Shovel to the Charlottesville Catholic School; and the Notre Dame Club of The Jersey Shore, who selected the Toro Personal Pace Walk Power Mower, Toro Electric Trimmer and Toro Super Blower Vac. The New Jersey alumni club will raffle off the Toro products to benefit the Notre Dame Jersey Shore Scholarship Foundation.

“We are delighted and honored to receive such a generous donation from Toro and the Notre Dame Club of Greater Charlottesville,” said Lisa Goutos, director of development for the Charlottesville Catholic School. “We will enjoy putting this gift to good use, and the students will appreciate having a safe path to school on snowy days.”

The strategic partnership between Toro and the University of Notre Dame began in 2000, and supports both organizations' tradition of community service. Notre Dame benefits by receiving grounds maintenance equipment and irrigation systems to maintain the beauty of its campus and football stadium, while Toro has the opportunity to align itself with an organization that shares its values, tradition of excellence, and commitment to social responsibility.

EMPLOYEE NEED FUND. Turning its attention to its own employees, Toro Executive Chairman Ken Melrose announced last week that the company has established the “Employee Critical Need Fund.” The fund has been kick-started by a $1 million contribution from the Kendrick B. Melrose Foundation, which The Toro Co. will match.

The idea for the fund was developed following the California wildfires in 2004 in which some Toro employees lost their homes and belongings. Melrose, who was CEO of Toro at the time, saw the immediate action taken by fellow employees and their generosity toward those who were affected.

“During my tenure, I had the extraordinary opportunity to work with talented employees whose commitment to Toro has been absolutely amazing,” said Melrose. “I am grateful for the efforts and dedication of our employees and I wanted them to know that their company would be there for them in time of need.”

The fund will provide short-term, emergency assistance to employees impacted by natural disasters, life threatening or serious illness or injury, loss of a family member, or other circumstances beyond the employee’s control. “While as a company we strive to give back to the community, it’s also important to help employees who make Toro successful,” Melrose said.