The Honda Foundation Celebrates 20 Years And Over $9 Million In Donations

TULLAMARINE, AUSTRALIA – May 31, 2012: The Honda Foundation, Honda’s charitable arm, celebrates its 20th birthday in May and has provided over $9 million in donations to deserving charities and organisations since its formation.

The Honda Foundation was established in May 1992 with the aim of providing assistance to local communities and fostering goodwill among Honda Australia, Honda Motor Vehicle Dealers and the public. Funding is drawn from Honda Motor Vehicle Dealers and Honda Australia who donate $15 ($5 and $10 respectively) for every Honda car sold.

Chairman of The Honda Foundation, Mr. Lindsay Smalley is proud to celebrate this milestone; “It is a fantastic achievement by our Honda Dealer Network and by Honda Australia to have made such a significant financial contribution to our community over the past 20 years.”

This pool of funding is managed by a voluntary Board of Trustees. Donations are made to charities, humanitarian bodies, natural disaster relief, innovative technology developers and other bodies that promote the development and preservation of Australian culture.

The Honda Foundation also offers a loan car program, ‘Honda Heroes’ which loans vehicles to organisations to conduct activities such as transporting cancer patients to and from care facilities.

Over the past twenty years, The Honda Foundation has provided funding for a wide range of activities and equipment ranging from long term medical research grants towards the study of a cure for Avian Influenza or Bird Flu, right through to the supply of school shoes for disadvantaged children in the community.

In times of natural disaster, The Honda Foundation has stepped in and made significant contributions towards bush fire and flood relief, including the Canberra and Victorian Bushfires as well as the Queensland floods.

At a local level, the purchase of new ovens for charities, cots for a nursing unit which cares for sufferers of pre and post natal depression, wheelchairs and other equipment to assist the disabled and toys for disabled children, make a significant and positive impact for those in need.

Mr. Smalley said The Honda Foundation is proud to have supported many incredible organisations. “As Australians we should be very proud of the people in our community who dedicate their lives to the betterment of our society. At Honda we are proud to support their activities where we can.”

With the aid of Honda Australia and participating Honda Motor Vehicle dealerships, The Honda Foundation can look forward to the next twenty years supporting our community.