News / People
THREE-TIME OLYMPIC SWIMMING GOLD MEDALIST AARON PEIRSOL ADVOCATES FOR THE OCEANS AT PORT OF LONG BEACH’S GREEN PORT FEST
SWIMMER ACTS AS SPOKESPERSON FOR TOYOTA'S "ENGINES FOR CHANGE" PROGRAM AND OCEANA
An avid surfer who grew up around and in the water, Peirsol signed on recently as a spokesperson for Oceana, the largest international organization solely dedicated to advocating for the world’s oceans. As part of his fight to conserve the oceans, he launched a fundraising program called Aaron Peirsol’s “Race for the Oceans” (www.racefortheoceans.org). Now, Toyota is providing additional support for his efforts by donating funds to Oceana during Green Port Fest, where Peirsol will host a series of special events including:
• Meet & greet with fans at Toyota’s Engines of Change booth (9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.)
• Q&A and interaction with kids at the Long Beach Aquarium “Touch Tank” (10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.)
• Formal introduction of special guests on the Main Stage (12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.)
• Speech at the Green Port Theatre regarding the importance of clean oceans (1:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.)
• Boat (or Rail) Tour (2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
Toyota’s Engines of Change campaign, tied to the environmental benefits of its Hybrid Synergy Drive vehicles, reflects how a commitment to sport, community and making a difference in the environment can change the future. The Engines of Change athletes are working to make a difference out of the pool and encouraging people to be inspired and inspire others.
“World-class athletes like Aaron Peirsol inspire us not only through their physical achievements but through their connection to the world,” said Megan Gillam, Engagement Marketing, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. “Inspiring people to take that extra step, get involved and make a difference is the focus of Toyota's Engines of Change program. We are proud to support Aaron in his efforts, as preserving the Earth’s oceans is critically important to all of us.”
“Aaron’s passion for saving our oceans is remarkable,” noted Oceana CEO, Andrew Sharpless. “With his help we believe we’ll be able to get a lot more done, specifically, educating and mobilizing people to join us in the campaign to save our oceans.”
A true “engine of change,” Peirsol is using his celebrity status to harness the strength of the swimming community to save our oceans. With the help of hundreds of thousands of “WaveMakers” worldwide, Oceana has already begun to turn things around. To learn more or sign up to become a WaveMaker, fans can visit www.racefortheoceans.org.
About Aaron Peirsol
Aaron won three Gold Medals at the Games in Athens, sweeping all the backstroke events, making him one of the top Olympians to watch in 2004. He now holds the World Record in the 100 backstroke and the 4 X 100 Medley Relay. Aaron went to his first Olympics at age 16 and set his first world record at age 17. His laid-back attitude out of the pool doesn’t hold true in the pool where he has become the dominant—and possibly the most influential—backstroker of all time. Currently training for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Aaron gives back to his community as a spokesperson for Oceana, motivational speaking and youth clinics.
About Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion in the United States, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Established in 1957, TMS markets products and services through a network of more than 1,400 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers. Toyota sold more than 2.5 million vehicles in 2006 in the United States.
About Oceana
Global in scope and dedicated to conservation, Oceana has campaigners based in North America, South America and Europe. Among its victories since its inception in 2001, Oceana has been able to protect one million square miles of ocean habitat from destructive trawling; get penalties in place to stop half of the world’s shipping fleet from dumping twenty million gallons of oily water into our oceans every year; influence the adoption of advanced wastewater treatment systems by the second largest cruise line in the world; and convince five of the largest mercury polluters in the United States to switch to mercury-free technology or shut down. More than 300,000 members and e-activists in over 150 countries have already joined Oceana.
