Contact:
Susan Jacobs, Wheels of Success, (813) 490-9443 or Gail Rine (813) 490-9414

VEHICLES FOR VETERANS PILOT PROGRAM KICKED OFF BY WHEELS OF SUCCESS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS STATE FARM AUTO INSURANCE AND TOYOTA OF TAMPA BAY

U.S. Army Veteran Who Served in Iraq to be Honored Recipient on November 10th

TAMPA, Fla. (November 3, 2009) -- A U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq will soon be on the road to success in a newly refurbished vehicle that will secure her drive to work and school, thanks to a partnership between Wheels of Success, Toyota of Tampa Bay and State Farm Auto Insurance Company. Representatives from the three organizations will hand over the keys to the grateful recipient, Kyana S., at 10 a.m. (EST) on Tuesday, November 10th, at Toyota of Tampa Bay, located at 1101 East Fletcher Ave. State Farm Auto Insurance donated the 2002 Chevy Malibu as a salvage vehicle, and Toyota of Tampa Bay contributed repairs/refurbishing.

"On the eve of our nation's observance of veterans, it will be rewarding to kick off our Vehicles for Veterans pilot program by presenting a worthy war veteran with affordable, reliable transportation," said Susan Jacobs, whose Wheels of Success Tampa Bay grassroots organization helps working people continue working through donated vehicles and funds donated for repairs.

Kyana drove a military truck in the first wave of U.S. involvement in Iraq. Now serving in the Army Reserves, she is a single parent of a 5-year-old son. She drives an hour between her Hillsborough Community College classes and home; takes a turn transporting a member of her close-knit family to medical appointments and car pools other children. Kyana's new-to-her Malibu will afford her the transportation needed to fulfill all of her personal commitments, report to Reserve duty, and earn her pharmacy degrees: associate's, bachelor's and finally doctorate.

She was referred through the joint efforts of Mark Elliott, Hillsborough Community College Benefit Advisor and three Veterans' Administration professionals: Jane Spencer, Carol Griffiths, and Dan Wilder – all of whom are partnering for an expansion of Vehicles for Veterans in 2010.

Insuring more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., State Farm is the leading insurer of watercraft and a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm's 17,000 agents and 68,000 employees serve about 80 million policies accounting for: more than 78 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.9 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 32 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca®.

Toyota of Tampa Bay offers the latest selection of New Toyota Cars, Trucks, SUVs and Used Toyota Cars, Trucks, and SUVs. The dealership and on-site repair and body shops are conveniently located just minutes away for Tampa Bay customers looking for a Toyota dealer with a reputation that is second-to-none for providing outstanding customer service. Loyal customers travel from Trinity, Spring Hill, Hudson, New Port Richey and Crystal River to experience world-class service.

Wheels of Success (www.wheelsofsuccess.org) is located at Family Justice Center, 9309 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, FL. Incorporated in 2003 to help families obtain or continue work by delivering reliable transportation solutions, WOS is Tampa Bay's only 501(c)3 nonprofit organization providing a full range of transportation solutions including vehicle replacement, car repair, licensing, car payment and down payment assistance to low and moderate income working families. Visit our web site to learn more and/or make a donation. Call 813/490-9443 to make a donation specifically for this program dedicated to providing reliable transportation to U.S. military veterans in Hillsborough, Pasco or Pinellas counties.