New York, New York – A conservation alliance of Toyota and the National Audubon Society has awarded forty TogetherGreen Fellowships to some of the most promising conservationists in the U.S. to help advance their environmental vision and conservation leadership skills. The Fellows were selected from applicants across the country by an advisory board of environmental leaders.

The TogetherGreen Fellows were chosen for their leadership potential, skills and commitment to engaging communities in conservation action. Each will receive a US$10,000 stipend and assistance in launching local projects. Recipients include professors and Ph.D. candidates, an artist, ecologists, professional conservation practitioners, and representatives of wide-ranging community organizations.

TogetherGreen, in its first year, has funded projects to foster diverse leaders and serve communities not previously engaged in conservation activities. These include mentoring youth in Los Angeles Latino neighbourhoods, an urban forestry program for African Americans in Gainesville, Florida, and a conflict management workshop in conservation networks in Appalachia, along with installing solar panels in schools and mobilizing rural ranchers to protect water quality. In all, efforts will aid people and wildlife around 39 cities in 24 different states.

“Toyota believes in the power of grassroots efforts to develop the environmental leaders of tomorrow,” said Patricia Salas Pineda, Group Vice President, Toyota Motor North America. “These forty TogetherGreen Fellows will receive invaluable training for the future, while immediately making a difference today with on-the-ground community projects.”