In raising funds to send a Make-A-Wish recipient to The Bahamas last year, Toyota Material Handling held a golf scramble.
This year, the local business is going a step further. In addition to a golf scramble, Toyota Material Handling is conducting a 5K run and walk.
The 5K, which originally was scheduled for April, will begin at 9 a.m. July 18 at its Walesboro campus. The golf scramble, which was postponed from May, is scheduled for July 25 at Otter Creek Golf Course.
“I think people will be looking forward to outdoor activities that have been stuck at home,” said Shelley Bramlett, executive assistant to Toyota Material Handling North America president and CEO Brett Wood. “I think people have been anxious to get the final go-ahead, and I’m hoping that will bring some people out.”
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The 5K is replacing a cornhole tournament that was held last year. The golf tournament is in its second year. Nearly 150 players took part last year at Timbergate.
“Last year, our golf outing was a tremendous success,” Bramlett said. “We ended up raising so much money that we were able to send two kids on a Make-A-Wish trip instead of one.”
This year’s Make-A-Wish recipient is a 12-year-old named Briar who has a neuromuscular disorder. The disorder causes his muscles to become damaged and weaken over time, which can lead to problems walking.
Toyota Material Handling is hoping to raise $7,500 through the 5K and golf scramble. If that goal is met, the company will match the $7,500 to make a total of $15,000.
The money will be used to send Briar and his family on a vacation to Hawaii. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, that trip likely will take place next year.
Briar also has been invited to Toyota Material Handling to become its CEO for the Day. Also because of the pandemic, that likely will not happen until later this year.
“Right now, Make-A-Wish kids can’t be around large crowds until September because of COVID,” Bramlett said. “So hopefully by the end of the year, we hope to have him in. We will have a limo pick him up. We have lunch with him and will make it very special. We’ll have a Hawaiian theme because he is going to Hawaii. We’ll have surprises for him to take on his trip. We have a theater in our office that we’ll take them in and officially reveal the offer to go to Hawaii.”
Toyota Material Handling also raises money by selling T-shirts, holding “Dollars for Denim” days, auctioning off parking spots to employees and giving associates an online link to go in and donate.
“Really, it’s for kids, but all the associates can be involved,” Bramlett said. “It’s really fun to see how the associates embrace these opportunities. Forklifts carry loads, and we help people carry the load. One of our core values is being good citizens. Our associates just embrace the opportunity to do anything like this.”
Wood said he thinks it is important for companies like Toyota and communities like Columbus to support those in need.
“We exist to contribute to society, and we are so proud to partner with a great organization like Make-A-Wish to help make wishes come true for children with critical illnesses that have fought through so much,” Wood said. “It’s so meaningful to us to try to bring a smile to a child’s face and provide them and their families a little bit of joy, especially during these challenging times.”
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Registration for Toyota Material Handling’s 5K run and walk on July 18 is $25 and includes a t-shirt and raffle ticket. To register, visit https://www.signmeup.com/reg/form/133887/registration
Registration for the golf scramble on July 25 is $75 per person or $300 per foursome and includes a cart, range balls, t-shirt, lunch and a chance at raffle prizes. To register, visit https://toyotamakeswishescometrue.eventbrite.com
For more information on either, contact Shelley Bramlett at 317-525-9833 or [email protected]
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