A scene from the 2007 Toyota Classics

The annual Toyota Classics is a major component of UMW Toyota Motor’s annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. Conceptualised as the philanthropic pillar of UMW Toyota Motor’s three pillars of CSR, the Toyota Classics concerts – which are performances by world renowned orchestras - have raised funds for charitable organisations and also Non-Governmental Organisations in Malaysia since 1990.

“Each year, the proceeds from the ticket sales and corporate donations at the event are donated to three or four pre-selected charitable organisations from all around Malaysia.,” said Aminar Rashid, UMWT’s Executive Director, Strategic Planning Group, UMW Toyota Motor. From the RM500,000 which was raised in the first year of the Toyota Classics in Malaysia, the event has collected some RM4.89 million over a period of 17 years which has benefited 36 charities.

The beneficiaries of  the 2007 event are the Yayasan DiRaja Sultan Mizan, Terengganu; Rumah Kanak-Kanak Taman Bakti, Kepala Batas, Penang; Persatuan Penjagaan Kanak-Kanak Cacat Klang, Selangor; and Persatuan Kebajikan Orang Cacat Manjung, Perak.

Representative from the four beneficiaries (extreme left and right) with the top management of UMW Toyota Motor and Datuk Faizah Mohd Tahir, Secretary General, Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, after the cheque presentation ceremony

For the Rumah Kanak-Kanak Taman Bakti, Kepala Batas, the RM167,000 received from the 2007 Toyota Classics will be used to overcome their transportation woes. This “Safe Home” for children will now be able to purchase their own mode of transport, thus providing an alternative to renting buses and vans to ferry their children to and from school and clinics.

The Persatuan Penjagaan Kanak-Kanak Cacat Klang and Persatuan Kebajikan Orang Cacat, Manjung, will utilise the sum of RM88,800 and RM88,400 respectively, towards the purchase of physiotherapy equipment for the rehabilitation of their children and some of their stroke patients.