One team helping another

In 1991, Toyota made a long-term commitment to Special Olympics in Canada, and over the lifetime of this enduring partnership, with the support of Toyota dealers and the Toyota Canada Foundation, it has committed more than $5.5 million to our sport movement.

This generous commitment has ensured the growth of Special Olympics in communities across the country. Fourteen thousand athletes were registered with Special Olympics in 1991. Almost 20 years later, there are more than 34,000 athletes involved in Special Olympics across Canada. Toyota’s partnership has also fostered such innovations as the national team program. Now the model for North and South American training programs, it was developed for Special Olympics athletes who will compete internationally and represent Canada at the Special Olympics World Games.

The longstanding Special Olympics Canada & Toyota Canada relationship does not only include a financial donation, but Toyota is the official supplier and sponsor of vehicles for all national and provincial competitions. Toyota also reaches out to their vast dealer network in Canada and encourages its employees and dealers to volunteer with Special Olympics in their communities.

Toyota Canada Foundation and our new Toyota Volunteer Training Days program has been a long time in the making. We are proud to launch this volunteer recruitment and training program, which focuses on letting Canadians know how they can get involved with Special Olympics, through the many volunteer opportunities available in communities across Canada. Toyota Volunteer Training Days also seeks to educate Canadians about how this incredible sport movement empowers athletes with an intellectual disability, changes attitudes and builds strong communities.