THE TORO GIVING PROGRAM 2006 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY Giving and Growing
The Toro Giving Program is committed to beautifying and preserving outdoor environments, enhancing communities and improving people s lives.
OUR MISSION For more than 90 years The Toro Company has helped customers create and beautify outdoor environments. At the same time we have built a legacy of giving back to the community. The focus of the Giving Program is on enhancing communities where Toro employees live and work as well as supporting organizations that strengthen the turf industry. Toro s distinctive contributions in 2006 took the form of financial contributions for programs supporting nonprofits, as well as product donations for facility maintenance, educational enhancements and fundraising events. Toro volunteers enhanced communities and improved lives in diverse ways, from using their professional expertise to install irrigation in a sports field to helping seniors with landscape and snow removal needs. Emphasis was distributed equally between improving communities where employees work and live, and active participation on strengthening all levels of the turf industry. From providing disadvantaged populations with the ability to play golf and baseball to giving urban youth the tools to enhance their environment, Toro s support is diverse and meaningful.
At Toro, our passion is designing products that help create and maintain beautiful and safe outdoor spaces.
PRODUCT DONATION LIST COMMUNITY YMCA of Minneapolis $50,500 Gold Medal Park $38,500 Habitat for Humanity $30,120 The Guthrie Theatre $22,550 Sabathani Community Center $22,000 Friendship Ventures $18,300 Amherst H. Wilder Foundation $14,800 Lutheran Social Services $10,600 Fulda Public Schools $10,281 Neighborhood Improvement Program $10,000 Nebraska Games and Park Commission $9,700 City of Fairbury $9,700 St Paul s Lutheran School $9,700 Courage Center $8,500 Village of Kendall $7,000 Catholic Charities $6,800 Friends of Windom Wetland District $6,326 INDUSTRY Rutgers University $99,000 The Ohio State University $50,500 The First Tee Chapter of Sharon, PA $20,000 Michigan State University $16,750 Robbinsdale Area Youth Baseball $11,800 University of Minnesota Master Gardener Research & Display Garden $8,554 PRODUCT DONATIONS Last year, an increasing number of nonprofits benefited from donations from Toro s innovative family of products. Recognizing the unique need of each organization, Toro donates products to assist with facility maintenance or benefit educational and fundraising efforts. COMMUNITY Outdoor experiential education is the hallmark of a summer camp experience. Toro prides itself in helping camps maintain their expansive green spaces. This was the impetus for the donation of landscape equipment to seven camp locations in Toro communities in 2006. Also, Toro supports education in rural communities that face the challenge of limited resources by making product donations ranging from utility vehicles to mowers, ensuring a safe, welcoming and productive educational environment. INDUSTRY From partnering with a Sports Turf Managers Association chapter, to install irrigation for a youth baseball field, to donating product to maintain a golf course for The First Tee, Toro works to sustain the excellence of the turf care industry. Supporting a high quality educational environment for the future leaders of this industry ensures golf courses and sports fields will continue to grow and prosper. As an example, product donations to The Ohio State University provided students hands-on training in sports fields maintenance, while a donation to Rutgers University brought students firsthand access to Toro s environmentally-responsible irrigation products.
Success is measured not only by the satisfaction of our customers but by the contributions we make to our industry and the communities where Toro employees work and live.
GRANT LIST COMMUNITY Greater Twin Cities United Way $350,000 KaBOOM! $27,500 The Nature Conservancy in Australia $25,000 United Way of Inland Valleys $24,667 Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Foundation $20,000 Gage County United Way $17,870 The Guthrie Theater $17,000 Olson Middle School $10,954 Milkweed Editions $10,000 Trust For Public Land $10,000 The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota $10,000 Minnesota Zoo Foundation $10,000 Friends Of The Mississippi River $10,000 Twin Cities Public Television, Inc. $10,000 Eco Education $10,000 Windom United Services $9,736 Pioneer Public Television $7,500 Youth Farm And Market Project $5,000 Minnesota Land Trust $5,000 Bell Museum Of Natural History $5,000 Farm In The City $5,000 Belwin $5,000 Great River Greening $5,000 Tree Trust $5,000 Companies To Classrooms $5,000 The Children s Theatre Company $5,000 Community Emergency Assistance Program $5,000 United Way Of Abilene $4,462 United Way Of Sheboygan $2,560 INDUSTRY Environmental Institute For Golf $50,000 OPEI Education And Research Foundation $50,000 Irrigation Association Education Foundation $50,000 Michigan State University $40,000 The Ohio State University $40,000 The First Tee Chapters of the Twin Cities $19,500 Michigan State University Libraries TGIF System $15,000 Center for Resource Management $15,000 University Of Wisconsin - Stout $12,000 The First Tee $10,000 National Amputee Golf Association $10,000 Sister Kenny Foundation $10,000 Twins Community Fund $10,000 National Sports Center $10,000 Communicating For Agriculture $10,000 S.A.F.E. Foundation $9,000 Project EverGreen $7,500 Windom Area Middle School $5,000 Minneapolis Park And Recreation Board $5,000 Special Olympics Minnesota $5,000 The primary focus of Toro s financial contributions is to enhance environments and strengthen education, with an emphasis on smart water management, science and turf maintenance. Supporting critical needs in Toro communities through contributions to the United Way along with funding a softball field in rural Minnesota are just two of the ways The Giving Program is improving peoples lives. COMMUNITY Conservation action and river recovery support in Australia is the principal focus of a donation to The Nature Conservancy, an organization making a significant difference in the conservation efforts of a country that is striving to preserve its natural heritage. Another Toro-supported program gave community gardeners and immigrant populations the opportunity to grow fruits and vegetables native to other countries. The extra produce lessened the burden on community food banks over the summer months while educating gardeners on their native heritage and horticulture. INDUSTRY Whether providing scholarship funding for Golf Enterprise Management students, or backing a consumer education program on riding mower safety, Toro plays a leadership role in strengthening our industry. Supporting the Center for Resource Management assists in convening golf industry professionals to assess environmental stewardship progress during the past 10 years. Support of Special Olympics, the National Amputee Golf Association and The First Tee exemplifies how Toro encourages equal access to field sports and golf for handicapped and disadvantaged populations. FINANCIAL DONATIONS EMPLOYEE PROGRAMS UNITED WAY INDUSTRY DISCRETIONARY GRANTS COMMUNITY DISCRETIONARY GRANTS
Volunteering develops the whole person, giving each of us the chance to make a difference thereby helping to change the lives of people in need and the face of our communities.
VOLUNTEERISM TORO VOLUNTEERS GIVE TIME TO: Habitat for Humanity United Way Olson Middle School Meals on Wheels Best Prep Minnesota Zoo Rebuilding Together Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Salvation Army Feed My Starving Children Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Cystic Fibrosis Foundation KaBOOM! Boy Scouts of America Girl Scouts of America 4-H RECOGNIZING VOLUNTEER EXCELLENCE 2006 Every Day Hero Award Ted McLaughlin - Boy Scouts of America 2006 Hands of Hope Award El Paso Team - Rebuilding Together While supporting a strong work ethic, Toro understands the balance of work, family and community in promoting overall employee satisfaction and morale. This balance is the keystone for building a legacy of enhancing communities with volunteerism. Using both personal and corporate work time, employees give back with time and talent, striving to grow stronger and healthier communities. PARTNERSHIPS Toro prides itself in maximizing employee volunteer talents through a variety of partnerships. The Corporate Volunteerism Council of the Twin Cities recognized Toro with its Leadership Award in 2006 highlighting Toro s outstanding commitment to improving communities through partnerships. An alliance with the NFL s Minnesota Vikings engaged more than 200 volunteers in building a playground in one day while Toro and The Home Depot volunteers partnered to give a local middle school a complete makeover. Educational partnerships impact the lives of youth by engaging volunteers in activities like community clean up and tree planting days, while others work with students weekly in reading programs and e-mentoring programs. The combination of these programs reinforces Toro s commitment to enhancing communities and improving peoples lives.
It is the company s belief that Toro employees are its greatest asset. Employees contribute to the success of the company while attaining personal goals for achievement and self-satisfaction.
EMPLOYEE PROGRAMS Toro provides an environment where employees are supported, empowered, respected and valued. In turn, employees understand the importance of sharing their resources, time and talent. The Melrose Employee Critical Need Fund Understanding that crisis can strike at any time, not just when natural disaster occurs, former Toro CEO Kendrick B. Melrose established the Melrose Employee Critical Need Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation. This innovative fund assists Toro families who encounter significant hardship due to catastrophic circumstances beyond their control. Matching Gift Program This program reinforces Toro s emphasis on the environment and education by matching up to $1,000 per employee to the institution(s) of their choice. Dollars For Doers Toro donates $300 to qualifying nonprofits where an employee has volunteered a minimum of 30 hours of his or her personal time during the past year. Scholarship Program The Toro Scholarship Program and The Kendrick B. Melrose Family Foundation Scholarship Program empower Toro employee dependents to achieve their educational goals. Since its inception, students across the world have received more than $1.1 million. Team/Individual Heroic Event Program The Giving Program matches all funds up to $1,000 raised by a team of at least six employees participating in cause-related walks and other fundraising events. Individuals who participate in a Three-Day event receive a dollar for dollar match for all funds raised up to $1,000. United Way Employees donate generously to the many worthwhile organizations served by the United Way; the Giving Program matches employee campaign pledges dollar for dollar, making the United Way one of our primary grant recipients.
GIVING PROGRAM STAFF Stacy Bogart, Director Judson Tharin, Sr. Community Relations Specialist Kathy Manson, Volunteer Coordinator GIVING PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEMBERS/ TORO FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS Mike Hoffman, Chairman, President & CEO Karen Meyer, Vice President, Administration Stacy Bogart, Assistant General Counsel and Toro Foundation President Steve Wolfe, Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer Larry McIntyre, Vice President, Secretary & General Counsel Sandra Meurlot, Vice President, Operations Dennis Himan, Group Vice President Tim Dordell, Vice President, Deputy General Counsel OFFICERS OF THE BOARD Stacy Bogart, President Blake Grams, Treasurer Kathy Manson, Secretary www.thetorocompany.com 2007 The Toro Company All Rights Reserved The Toro Company 8111 Lyndale Avenue South Bloomington, Minnesota 55420