Honda Battle of the Bands Welcomes New Presenting Sponsor Verizon And Prepares to Surprise One Lucky Fan with a New 2012 Honda CR-V

TORRANCE, CA--December 22, 2011: Honda Battle of the Bands (www.hondabattleofthebands.com) is proud to announce that Verizon Wireless will join the Honda Battle of the Bands family as the 2012 presenting sponsor and exclusive wireless partner. Together, Verizon and Honda will celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the nation's largest HBCU music scholarship program -- the Honda Battle of the Bands.

“Verizon is excited about this unique opportunity to support education through scholarships and highlight the importance of music education which is woven into the fabric of the HBCU experience”

"Verizon is excited about this unique opportunity to support education through scholarships and highlight the importance of music education which is woven into the fabric of the HBCU experience," states Leroy Williams, area vice president, sales and marketing at Verizon Wireless. Verizon's support of HBOB provides an opportunity to help celebrate the educational excellence and perpetuate the legacy of marching bands at HBCUs.

"There's a tremendous need for corporate support of music education, particularly at our nation's HBCUs," said Barbara Ponce, Manager of Diversity Advertising for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "In this spirit, we're honored to welcome Verizon as our presenting sponsor, and we're excited to be able to join forces with such a respected brand to serve these institutions, and through the HBCUs to serve America's future black leaders and their communities."

Also new to the 2012 program is the first-ever fan social media competition that will give HBCU students the opportunity to flex their Facebook and Twitter skills to compete to win a brand new Honda CR-V. "Band Chatter," introduced for the 10^th anniversary of the Honda Battle of the Bands, is an online social media contest that will award three finalists a trip for two to the Invitational Showcase on January 28, 2012. Registered users of the Honda Battle of the Bands official web site (www.hondabattleofthebands.com) can login, visit the "Band Chatter" page and through Facebook postings, comments, photo uploading and sharing accumulate points for their daily social media activity. The more users fans engage with their social media connections about the event and their favorite marching band, the more points they may earn. When the competition period ends on January 6, 2012, the top three die-hard HBCU marching band fans who have generated the most social media points will be given the opportunity to travel to the Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase, January 28^thin Atlanta to participate in a second promotion for a chance to win a 2012 Honda CR-V.

The all-new 2012 CR-V is loaded with hi-tech features, more efficient engine design with improved horsepower and torque, along with an all-new Real Time All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) with Intelligent Control Systems. New high-tech features standard on all models include a Bluetooth HandsFreeLink phone interface, a full-color intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID) and a multi-angle rearview camera with guidelines. Every 2012 CR-V includes an SMS text messaging function, which can read received texts from compatible cell phones aloud over the audio system and the introduction of standard Pandora® Internet Radio interface.

Points accumulated as a part of the "Band Chatter" game do not affect which marching bands perform in the Invitational Showcase, and the leader board on the web page keeps players informed real-time as to their status. No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to participate or win. Purchase will not enhance one's chances of winning. "Band Chatter" is open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., 18 years of age or older with a valid U.S. driver's license at the time of participation. Void where prohibited. Subject to full, official rules available at Honda Battle of the Bands .

Honda Battle of the Bands on Facebook: Facebook Honda Battle of the Bands
Honda Battle of the Bands on Twitter: Honda Twitter
Honda Battle of the Bands on YouTube: http://Honda on Youtube

About Honda

American Honda Motor Co., Inc., was founded in 1959 as the U.S. sales and marketing subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Honda currently produces automobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, lawn mowers and engines at its eleven major U.S. manufacturing operations, using domestic and globally sourced parts. Honda's long-standing commitment to the support and success of the nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities began more than 20 years ago with the establishment of the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge, a program designed to showcase the academic gifts and prowess of HBCU students. American Honda established Honda Battle of the Bands nine years ago as an effort to support HBCU music programs.

About Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 107 million total connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500. A Dow 30 company with $106.6 billion in 2010 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 195,000.