Three elementary schools in Salt Lake City received benefits from Toyota' 5th Toyota Family Literacy Program (TFLP) held last January 17.  Monroe Elementary, James Moss Elementary and Woodrow Wilson Elementary, all located in the Granite School District, were given $6,000 to fund its programs that serve children in kindergarten to third grade and their parents.

In coordination with the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL), an organization that advocates family literacy, TFLP aspires to develop basic language and literacy skills among Hispanic and other immigrant families as well as provide training for parents in order for them to help their children excel in school.   It reaches out to about 20 cities across the country.  Since it started, Toyota had donated over $29 million to support the program. 

The program includes components such as children's education, parenting education, Parent and Child Together (PACT) activities, computer-literacy instruction and other courses.

"Family Literacy is of the utmost importance.  We are honored and excited at the opportunity to work with Toyota and NCFL to this end," Dr.  Martin Bates, the assistant superintendent of Granite School District, said in gratitude. 

Through the TFLP Program, 92 percent of parents covered by TFLP said their children's grades got significant improvements. Also, adults gained an increase in literacy scores by one or more levels.

"By partnering with Toyota, NCFL has nurtured a proven formula of research and delivery of family literacy services that not only works for the participants, but for the betterment of the communities," NCFL President and Founder Sharon Darling said.

Like an Acura Integra throttle body that controls the amount of air in your car engine, Toyota's TFLP sustains hope for these people - an effort indeed worthy to be emulated.