Southeast Toyota Distributors Sponsors Summer Robotics Camp in Jackson County, Georgia

In support of the local school system in Jackson County where its new $100 million automotive processing facility is located, Southeast Toyota Distributors is sponsoring a summer robotics camp.

“The Jackson County School System (JCSS) serves more than 8,600 students, many of whom are the children of our associates,” said Cindy Patterson, director of Operations for the Southeast Toyota Distributors facility in Commerce. “While the school system had an existing high school robotics team, they were interested in expanding their reach to engage the next generation of STEM enthusiasts, and we were more than eager to help.”

To satisfy the growing interest in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math, JCSS recently launched a summer robotics camp open to all fifth through eighth grade students.

As part of their sponsorship of the camp, which allows students to design, build and program a working robot with the guidance of their peers and staff from throughout the district, Southeast Toyota Distributors, along with its parent company JM Family Enterprises, purchased several Lego Mindstorms kits. Students who work with these kits develop essential skills such as creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and stronger communications. Each set supports multiple students and offers a variety of educational resources, video tutorials and lesson plan materials for school staff. The kits will be used annually for camp and will also help kickstart middle school-level robotics teams within Jackson County.

“Twenty-nine students from all over Jackson County participated in the first successful week of camp,” said Michael Shawler, a science teacher at East Jackson County High School and coach of the Robotics Team. “Every student left with a smile each day. Our camp would not have been possible without the help of Southeast Toyota Distributors.”

JM Family and its subsidiaries strive to inspire action and engage associates to strengthen the communities in which they live and work through support and volunteerism. The company’s Corporate Community Impact is focused on three areas of giving – empowering families, promoting education and embracing the environment.

About Southeast Toyota Distributors LLC
Southeast Toyota Distributors is the world’s largest independent distributor of Toyotas. The company distributes vehicles, parts and accessories to 177 Toyota dealerships in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina and South Carolina. Dealers in this region sell approximately 20% of all Toyotas sold in the country. Headquartered in Deerfield Beach, Florida, its vehicle processing facilities are located in Jacksonville, Florida and Commerce, Georgia.

Southeast Toyota Distributors is a subsidiary of JM Family Enterprises, Inc., a privately held company with more than $20 billion in revenue and more than 5,000 associates, which is headquartered in Deerfield Beach, Florida. Interact with JM Family on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About JM Family’s Corporate Community Impact
When he founded JM Family Enterprises, Inc. in 1968, Jim Moran instilled in the company the spirit of giving back as an integral part of who we are. We inspire action and engage our associates to strengthen the communities in which we live and work. We pursue that goal through support and volunteerism. We contribute our time and talent to impact diverse causes driven by our culture, associates and the community. JM Family’s Corporate Community Impact efforts are focused on three areas of giving – empowering families, promoting education and embracing the environment.

About JM Family Enterprises
JM Family Enterprises, Inc. was founded by automotive legend, Jim Moran in 1968. It is a privately held company with more than $20 billion in revenue and more than 5,000 associates. Rooted in automotive and united in its strong culture and core values, JM Family is in the business of helping other businesses succeed. As a long-term partner, it is invested in its companies, associates and its communities. Driven by exceptional performance, current subsidiaries are in the automotive, financial services, franchising and specialty distribution industries. Its family of companies includes: Southeast Toyota Distributors, JM&A Group, World Omni Financial Corp. (dba Southeast Toyota Finance), JM Lexus, Home Franchise Concepts^®, Futura Title & Escrow and Rollease Acmeda. Interact with JM Family on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.