Toyota Wellspring
Imagine the possibilities
Exposing students to opportunities. Preparing them for success. Connecting them to their future.
About the Toyota Wellspring Education Fund
The Toyota Wellspring Education Fund is a long-term investment in the future of Northeast Mississippi. Established in 2007 through the partnership between Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi and CREATE Foundation, the fund empowers students to imagine their possibilities.
The original investment focused on strengthening education and workforce development in Pontotoc, Union, and Lee counties, or the PUL Alliance – the communities surrounding Toyota’s Blue Springs plant. Over time, the work expanded as impact grew. Today, Wellspring supports students, educators, and career coaches across the broader Northeast Mississippi region, building strong connections between education and industry.
Through regional partnerships, real-world learning experiences, and support for career coaching, Toyota Wellspring Education Fund empowers students to explore career pathways, garner essential skills, and connect to meaningful opportunities, preparing them for life after graduation and beyond.
Wellspring advisory committeeCareer Coaches
Career coaches are at the heart of Toyota Wellspring’s work. They guide students through discovering career pathways, exploring opportunities, and planning their futures. The Wellspring fund supports career coaches in multiple districts across the region, giving them the tools, resources, and professional development needed to serve students.
Career coaches help students:
- Understand their strengths
- Connect with opportunities
- Prepare for life after high school
- Explore career pathways
- Build confidence and real-world skills
Career Coach Statewide Program
A Lasting Impact
What started as a grassroots initiative in northeast Mississippi, grew into a statewide implementation with lasting impact. In 2018, the Toyota Wellspring Education Fund established the career coach cohort for Pontotoc, Union, and Lee (PUL) counties which expanded in 2020 through government and community partnerships to include more career coaching opportunities in Alcorn, Chickasaw, and Lowndes. This ultimately led to the 2022 establishment of House Bill 1388, creating a statewide career coach program.
Meet Our career coachesExpose
Expose initiatives introduce students to careers, workplaces, and industries they may not have seen before. These experiences spark curiosity and expand students’ understanding of what their future can look like.
Examples Include:
- Workplace tours
- Imagine the Possibilities with Virtual Career Expo
- Industry speakers
- Big Ideas
- Externship experiences
- Hands-on demonstrations
Prepare
Prepare initiatives give students real-world skills, knowledge, and preparation needed to take the next step toward their futures.
Examples Include:
- YouScience data-driven aptitude and interest assessment
- Career fairs
- Financial literacy sessions
- Mock interviews
- Junior Achievement programs
Connect
Connect initiatives link students directly with employers, workforce programs, and regional partners who help them apply what they have learned in meaningful ways.
- Internships
- Career Connections with industry partners
- Regional workforce programs
- Classroom-to-career grants
- Job shadowing
Regional Impact Stories
Imagine the Possibilities with Us
Help us continue building strong futures for students across Northeast Mississippi.
- Host job shadow or internship experiences
- Participate in mock interviews
- Visit schools to share about your career.
