Honda Foundation Hits the Six Million Dollar Mark

TULLAMARINE, Australia – December 22, 2008: The Honda Foundation will continue to support Australian charities in the current challenging global economic climate.

A recent survey conducted by the GiveWell Research Centre revealed that many organisations would reduce the amount they donate to charity as they face reduced profits due to the uncertain economic outlook.

The Honda Foundation supports Australian organisations who focus their activities on the disadvantaged, disabled or those suffering from long-term and life threatening illnesses.

The Foundation draws funding from Honda dealers Australia-wide and Honda Australia. For each car sold, the dealer donates $5 to the Foundation and Honda Australia donates $10.

In 2008, the Honda Foundation made significant contributions to 35 Australian charities, including St. Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, the Children’s Medical Research Institute in New South Wales, Guide Dogs Victoria and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Cementing its ongoing commitment to Australian charities, the Honda Foundation recently announced a $500,000 donation over five years to the Griffith Institute of Glycomics towards vital medical research into the treatment of life-threatening diseases such as influenza and cancer.

Another recent donation made possible through the support of Yarra Honda was $25,000 towards medical equipment for Melbourne’s Skin & Cancer Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation which provides specialised dermatology services, dermatopathology reporting and teaching activities for doctors.

Mr. Lindsay Smalley, Chairman of the Honda Foundation said, “The Foundation is proud of its ongoing contribution to Australian charities and witnessing the difference these donations make to people’s lives.

“Over the next few years, we look forward to building on the $6.5 million the Honda Foundation has already contributed to Australian charities,” Mr. Smalley said.

Another charity that benefited from the generous contribution of the Honda Foundation is Technical Aid for the Disabled, also known as TAD, who utilise the skills of 300 retired engineers to create custom designed aids for people with disabilities.

The Honda Foundation contribution to TAD’s project “My First Bike”, helped build specially made bikes for children with disabilities, such a cerebral palsy.

Since the donation from the Honda Foundation in 2005, TAD has been able to develop 245 bikes, benefiting disabled children throughout Australia who had not experienced the joy of riding a bike.

Earlier this year the Honda Foundation in conjunction with the Honda F1 Team, announced a donation of $100,000 to the Melbourne-based Lighthouse Foundation, which works to reduce youth homelessness.