Five Good Things: Trucking’s giving nature

Toyota and Kids In Need Foundation launch fourth annual Big Summer Giveback

Kids In Need Foundation and Toyota recently launched their fourth annual Big Summer Giveback, a nationwide initiative dedicated to leveling the educational playing field by equipping students in under-resourced schools with school supplies in time for back-to-school.

Since its launch in 2022, the Big Summer Giveback has continued to grow. Over the past four years, the initiative has generated more than $5.6M in donations and supported over 200,000 students through KINF's Supply A Student program.

Supply A Student, one of KINF's flagship programs, delivers backpacks filled with school supplies to students in schools where 70% or more of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program.

The 2025 Big Summer Giveback is set to reach over 77,000 students, providing them with new backpacks, ensuring they return to school prepared, confident, and ready to learn. This year also marks a new milestone: Over 57 Toyota dealerships are going beyond national efforts by individually pledging $10,000 in direct support to their local communities.

"Joining forces with KINF for the fourth annual Big Summer Giveback is a testament to Toyota's dedication to community support," said Mark Nazario, VP of integrated customer experience at Toyota Motor North America. "Toyota is excited to see a substantial increase in dealer participation and contributions to KINF this year, setting a new record since the program began in 2022. This initiative not only underscores our commitment to education but also demonstrates how collective efforts can transform lives and create lasting change in the communities we serve."

From August 1 to September 2, Toyota will also donate $3.00 to KINF for every eligible oil change with a tire rotation purchased at participating Toyota Service Centers.

ASE Chairman’s scholarship awarded

Amelia Gianella from Portland, Oregon, has been awarded the ASE Chairman’s scholarship for the 2025-26 school year. Gianella is a diesel/heavy-duty repair student at Portland Community College.

“Of all the students who applied for the ASE Chairman’s scholarship, Amelia really distinguished herself with her academic accomplishments and extracurricular achievements,” said Jason Rainey, chairman of the ASE board of directors. “We want to congratulate Amelia on this prestigious recognition and thank all the great students who applied for the scholarship. We also want to thank the University of the Aftermarket Foundation for all their help in facilitating this scholarship.”

The ASE Chairman’s Scholarship recognizes the technical skills and foundational knowledge required to support the industry as an entry-level technician. The ASE chairman is a voluntary leadership position, and the scholarship recognizes and honors the dedication of the ASE chairman to the advancement of all service professionals.

Truck driver named TCA Highway Angel for aiding injured cyclist

The Truckload Carriers Association has named truck driver Terry Walde of Miami, Manitoba, a TCA Highway Angel for stopping to aid a cyclist who had been struck by a semi-truck on the road in a hit-and-run accident. Walde drives for Searcy Trucking out of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

On May 27, while traveling eastbound on Highway 1 between Ernfold and Chaplin, Saskatchewan, Walde came upon a critical scene—a cyclist had been struck by a semi-truck that fled the scene.

“I saw the bicycle, and I also saw the guy lying there beside the bicycle,” said Walde, who has been a professional truck driver for 42 years. “Another truck driver stopped and called 911 while I tended to the guy to make sure he was still alive.”

The cyclist had sustained serious injuries, including a broken leg, ribs, and collarbone. He was lying on the side of the road, struggling to breathe.

“You could see on the grass along a ditch that the truck (that fled) drove right onto the grass, then kept going back onto the road again,” Walde said. “You could see the right tire tracks of the tractor trailer went right over him (the cyclist) on the grass.”

Walde communicated the cyclist’s injuries to emergency responders and then realized traffic wasn’t slowing down near the accident scene, so he directed traffic for several hours.

Searcy Trucking later provided dashcam footage to support the investigation. RCMP Constable Ryan Oram confirmed with Searcy Trucking that the driver responsible was apprehended and charged shortly afterward. When asked why he went to such lengths to help the injured cyclist, Walde was very matter-of-fact.

“I’m old school—it’s the way I was taught,” he said. “We help each other.”

See also: Diesel prices see slight relief after month-long spike; gas prices edge up across the U.S.

ATA’s John Lynch receives Halladay Award

The American Trucking Associations recently announced that John Lynch, ATA’s SVP of federation relations and industry affairs, was awarded the J.R. “Bob” Halladay Award.

Presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to assist and support the work of the 50 state trucking associations that comprise the ATA Federation, the Halladay Award is only awarded when a Trucking Associations Executive Council region hosting the annual meeting deems an individual worthy of recognition.

“It wasn't even a discussion—it didn't have to be. We all knew it needed to be Lynch, and all agreed it needs to be now,” said John D. Esparza, president and CEO of the Texas Trucking Association and outgoing chairman of TAEC. “We are very aware that the Halladay Award is not required to be given on a schedule. Yet John's actions and support have sung in concert with every attribute the recognition epitomizes in every year that has passed in his service to the industry. His dedication, support, and passion for the state associations are not lost on us.”

Lynch is tasked with overseeing the ATA Federation, serving as the primary liaison between ATA and the state trucking associations. Additionally, Lynch oversees ATA’s industry councils, including serving as the executive director of the National Accounting & Finance Council, and staffs ATA’s Small Carrier Committee. Lynch also serves as president of the Trucking Cares Foundation.

Bridgestone celebrates 10 years of Boys & Girls Clubs of America partnership with surprise donations, giving campaigns

Bridgestone Retail Operations, a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas, is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Driving Great Futures partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America with major donations, special giving campaigns, and engagement opportunities for Club kids throughout the remainder of the year. The nationwide initiative has raised nearly $30 million to make out-of-school programming more accessible for over 300,000 Club youth and their families since 2015.

Bridgestone kicked off the milestone year with a block party at Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee's Andrew Jackson Clubhouse in Nashville, Tennessee, where the company surprised Club kids and families with a new passenger van and presented BGCA with a $100,000 unrestricted operation grant to further support the organization's mission. Former NFL MVP Cam Newton joined Bridgestone Retail Operations president Marko Ibrahim, Bridgestone Americas VP of retail operations Melissa Vaglio, Boys & Girls Clubs of America president and CEO Jim Clark, and Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee leaders to inspire Club youth, hand out ice cream, and play games.

Later in the year, Bridgestone will continue its Driving Great Futures anniversary celebration with activities including:

• 10 passenger van donations for 10 Clubs across the country in celebration of 10 years of partnership
• Bridgestone teammate volunteers teaching Club kids the importance of proper vehicle maintenance through the company's Car Care Academy program
• Promotion of the launch of BGCA's new "America Needs Club Kids" campaign in Bridgestone stores across the country

"When we began our partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America 10 years ago, we could have never imagined the generosity it would inspire, or the number of lives it would impact," said Marko Ibrahim, president of Bridgestone Retail Operations. "Boys & Girls Clubs provide enrichment opportunities and environments that can shape bright futures, and we are grateful for the contributions of our customers and the commitment of our teammates over the past decade to help ensure countless kids and teens have a reliable way to get there."