Hackensack Riverkeeper Named Finalist in Toyota Contest

This weekend residents from across Bergen County can vote for the Hackensack Riverkeeper, the citizen-steward of the Hackensack River Watershed, on Facebook as one of the 500 nonprofit finalists in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program.Residents will be able to vote for the Riverkeeper on June 10.

The Japanese automaker will donate 100 vehicles to 100 nonprofit organizations over the course of 100 days. The Riverkeeper was one of 500 nonprofit organizations chosen out of a national field of more than 4,000 others.

"All of us at Hackensack Riverkeeper are thrilled to have been selected as a finalist for the 2012 Toyota 100 Cars for Good program," said Captain Bill Sheehan, Riverkeeper and founder of the organization in a press release.

The Riverkeeper and four competitors are in the running for a Toyota Tundra pick-up truck to assist the organization in their efforts to haul river cleanup gear and supplies around the 210 square-mile Hackensack River Watershed. It would also safely haul the organization’s two 28-foot pontoon boats, the Keeper Vessels Edward Abbey and Robert H. Boyle, for maintenance and storage; and launch them again.

The truck would also enable the Riverkeeper to introduce more people to kayaking; and better understanding the need for clean water because the organization will be able to transport boats to special events in New Jersey and New York. For the past few years, the Riverkeeper’s outreach potential has been limited by the more than 245,000 miles showing on the odometer of their current service vehicle.

“I have a great staff, a dedicated board of Trustees, a crackerjack volunteer corps and Hackensack Riverkeeper has many wonderful supporters,” Sheehan stated in the release. “We have pontoon boats, canoes and kayaks to bring people and nature together; the only thing we need now is a vehicle all of us can trust.”

Members of the public will be able to vote for the Riverkeeper on Sunday, June 10 from 10am to 11:59pm. The Riverkeeper will have to beat out Youth Challenge of Westlake, Ohio; Ronald McDonald House Charies of New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M., Streetwise of Chicago, Ill., and the Humane Society of Marion County, Ocala, Fla. by accumulating the most votes that day.

All vehicles will be provided with a six-year, 100,000-mile power train warranty compliments of Toyota Financial Services. Runners-up will each receive a $1,000 cash grant from Toyota.

"At Toyota, we appreciate what a significant impact a new car can have for nonprofits nationwide," noted Michael Rouse, vice president of philanthropy for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. in a press release. "Toyota has donated more than half a billion dollars to nonprofits across the U.S. over the past 20 years, and 100 Cars for Good allows us to expand that commitment to local communities in important new ways. The 500 finalists are an extraordinary group, and we look forward to the public learning more about them."

Here’s how you can help the Hackensack Riverkeeper win the Tundra:

First “like” them on facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/HackensackRiverkeeper 

Then Register to vote - it only takes a minute:

1) Go to www.100carsforgood.com

2) Click on the “Vote” Button

4) Go to Day 28 (June 10)

5) Scroll down to Hackensack Riverkeeper (only one of five)

6) Click on “Remind Me” tab

7) Enter your email address

8) Then, on June 10^th you will receive a reminder to vote for Hackensack Riverkeeper between 10 am – 11:59 pm EST.