Special Olympics IL Gets New Van from Toyota
By: Jacob Long, WMBD/WYZZ-TV
Updated: September 26, 2012
BLOOMINGTON - Earlier this year, WMBD 31 told you about an online contest called "100 Cars for Good."
Toyota spearheaded it in an effort to reward organizations with a new, free vehicle.
Normal-based Special Olympics Illinois beat out several thousand applicants to become a finalist.
Then, after one day of voting in early June, the group learned it defeated four other charities to win the grand prize.
"We're very excited about having something new that works," said Jennifer Marcello, coordinator of Special Olympics Illinois' Young Athletes program.
Wednesday was the day Toyota handed over the keys to the 2013 Sienna minivan. It happened during a small ceremony at Dennison Toyota in Bloomington.
The van is white and has room for several passengers and cargo space. It ensures the young athletes program can keep a set of wheels.
"We could have not afforded to purchase a new van this year and our other one is on its last leg," said Dave Breen, Special Olympics Illinois' CEO.
The new van replaces an older Ford with about 130,000 miles on it that staff say isn't always reliable.
"On the way here it was raining and we tried to use the windshield wipers and it actually made it worse," Marcello said.
Now the group is excited to pick out all the bells and whistles and take the van out on the open road.
It will be used to haul supplies between more than 160 young athlete sites across Illinois.
"It houses what they need to actually do the events and in some cases the trainings," Breen said.
Marcello added, "It also gives us the ease of knowing we have a vehicle that's reliable, dependable."
Special Olympics Illinois got another present Wednesday it did not know about.
Dennison Toyota handed over a check for $5,000 that will be matched in full by Toyota Corporation.
Toyota spearheaded it in an effort to reward organizations with a new, free vehicle.
Normal-based Special Olympics Illinois beat out several thousand applicants to become a finalist.
Then, after one day of voting in early June, the group learned it defeated four other charities to win the grand prize.
"We're very excited about having something new that works," said Jennifer Marcello, coordinator of Special Olympics Illinois' Young Athletes program.
Wednesday was the day Toyota handed over the keys to the 2013 Sienna minivan. It happened during a small ceremony at Dennison Toyota in Bloomington.
The van is white and has room for several passengers and cargo space. It ensures the young athletes program can keep a set of wheels.
"We could have not afforded to purchase a new van this year and our other one is on its last leg," said Dave Breen, Special Olympics Illinois' CEO.
The new van replaces an older Ford with about 130,000 miles on it that staff say isn't always reliable.
"On the way here it was raining and we tried to use the windshield wipers and it actually made it worse," Marcello said.
Now the group is excited to pick out all the bells and whistles and take the van out on the open road.
It will be used to haul supplies between more than 160 young athlete sites across Illinois.
"It houses what they need to actually do the events and in some cases the trainings," Breen said.
Marcello added, "It also gives us the ease of knowing we have a vehicle that's reliable, dependable."
Special Olympics Illinois got another present Wednesday it did not know about.
Dennison Toyota handed over a check for $5,000 that will be matched in full by Toyota Corporation.
