Autoland Toyota of Springfield Presents Minivan to Children’s Specialized Hospital

Earlier this month, gave Children’s Specialized Hospital of Mountainside a new Toyota Sienna minivan.

The van was unveiled at a special celebration in Autoland’s show room on Thursday, Nov. 3 that was attended by Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, Springfield Mayor Hugh A. Keffer, Children’s Specialized Hospital supporters, patients and representatives from Toyota’s regional office. 

The specially equipped vehicle was donated as part of the nationwide Toyota 100 Cars for Good program. In the program, the carmaker is giving away 100 vehicles to nonprofit organizations over the course of 100 days.

According to Toyota, Children’s Specialized Hospital is the only non-profit organization to receive a fully equipped wheelchair accessible minivan through the Toyota 100 Cars for Good program. The minivan will transport pediatric patients to and from the hospital. With the modifications, patients can roll in and out of the vehicle with a push of a button. 

Children’s Specialized Hospital provides of rehabilitation services for children with special needs, serving children affected by brain injury, spinal cord injury, premature birth, autism, developmental delays and life-changing illnesses. Through its nine sites in New Jersey, the hospital treats 18,000 children each year. 

“This was a fun and groundbreaking philanthropic effort by Toyota, and we are grateful to everyone who rallied for Children's Specialized and voted for our charity,” said Phil Salerno, president and chief development officer at the Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation. “This new minivan will allow our patients to travel outside the hospital to appointments and special outings. No longer will they need to drag along special equipment.”