HONDA The Power of Dreams

Several Honda companies in North America have had a lasting and impactful partnership with The Nature Conservancy throughout the years. American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM), Honda of America Mfg., Inc. (HAM), Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA), and Honda Manufacturing of Indiana (HMIN) have all collaborated with The Nature Conservancy to support environmental preservation efforts across the United States. Founded in 1951, The Nature Conservancy has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. 

Over this last year, HMA worked with The Nature Conservancy on preserving endangered ecosystems in Alabama, HMIN provided support for local conservation in Indiana, and AHM supported the Plant-a-Billion trees campaign. In Ohio, HAM reaffirmed its longstanding partnership with The Nature Conservancy to protect the environmentally fragile headwaters of the Big Darby Creek watershed by donating 90 acres of land. 

Nearly 30 years ago, HAM and the Ohio chapter of The Nature Conservancy began this public-private partnership to preserve the watershed, which is one of the Midwest’s most biologically diverse aquatic systems. This preservation protects the humble cold-water springs and streams that combine to form the headwaters of Big Darby Creek. This area is noted nationally for its tremendous diversity and abundance of both aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals. It is home to 86 species of fish, five of which are endangered in Ohio. Forty-one species of freshwater mollusks live in these waters, eight of which are on the Ohio endangered list. 

Earth Day Indiana holds an annual festival in Indianapolis, Indiana designed to celebrate and educate the community on environmental topics such as recycling, conservation of natural resources, and sustainable living. For 10 years, Honda Manufacturing of Indiana (HMIN) has been a supporter of the annual Earth Day Festival.  

In 2020, in celebration of its 30th anniversary, the Earth Day Festival welcomed central Indiana families to learn and be inspired to do their part in environmental responsibility. This year’s festival followed social distancing and safety guidelines and included over 125 exhibitors providing information on environmental stewardship. Each year HMIN associates host a booth featuring education about green initiatives at HMIN's plant, hybrid vehicle displays, giveaway prizes, and an activity table for children. The Earth Day Festival reaches thousands of people annually, spreading awareness of the importance of protecting the environment.

The American Honda Foundation promotes environmental engagement by supporting programs that provide hands-on activities in the outdoors, professional development for teachers, and job training in green jobs for teens and young adults.  

In 2020-2021, the American Honda Foundation awarded grants to environmental education nonprofit organizations across the United States including:  

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio: With over four acres in Cleveland’s Morgana Bluffs Nature Preserve, local youth gain exposure to and build on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts through “fun with purpose” activities and experiments that encourage hands-on learning and the application of classroom concepts in math and science through real-world exploration. The American Honda Foundation grant supported activities at the Outdoor Learning Lab, including birdwatching using sensory and physical tools to spot birds, as well as learning why snow happens and the math and science behind each snowflake.  

• Solar One: Through the organization's Green Design Lab program and curriculum, students and staff members in the New York City school system learn about environmental STEM subjects and work together to design and implement feasible, creative ways to reduce their school and community's environmental footprint. 

• Jones Valley Teaching Farm: Using food, farming and the culinary arts, instructors deliver experiential lessons that align with academic standards in math, science, social studies, and English language arts. 

• Rocking the Boat, Inc.: At Rocking the Boat in New York, low-income high school youth develop the self-confidence, academic and life skills necessary to finish high school and build a brighter future for themselves. Students begin the Youth Development Program in the 9th or 10th grade and self-select one of three non-traditional STEM tracks to follow.

Earth Rangers is an environmental conservation organization for children with over 250,000 members across Canada. Earth Rangers is committed to educating children about biodiversity and sustainable behaviors to empower them to protect animals and their habitats. For over 10 years, Honda Canada has partnered with Earth Rangers, and during this time it has grown from a local community initiative to reaching over 225 schools and more than 75,000 students across Canada.  

Honda Canada partners with Earth Rangers in several ways. This includes support for the Earth Rangers app, which is designed to provide accessible environmental education information to youth across Canada. The app provides fun, tangible activities throughout the year that demonstrate the collective impact of working together to protect the environment.  

Honda Canada also supports the Earth Rangers School Assembly program, designed to bring environmental education programs directly to students and teachers. Staying healthy and safe is of the utmost importance to Earth Rangers as it continues to focus on making quality programs available for youth during these unprecedented times. In October 2020, Earth Rangers launched a new Virtual School Assembly Program, a re-formatting of the live in-school program that leverages technology to deliver an immersive and engaging virtual experience. The program is broadcast live directly to grade 1-6 students and uses multiple camera angles, green screens, pre-recorded video, and other elements to keep students engaged. Most importantly, the program continues to feature the beloved Earth Rangers Animal Ambassadors, demonstrating their natural behaviors and helping students make the connection between their love for animals and the importance of protecting them.

The National Youth Project Using Minibikes (NYPUM) is an innovative program that engages at-risk youth ages 10-17 and positively affects behavior and academic performance. NYPUM makes use of Honda minibikes as a motivational tool to provide youth with access to opportunities that help them change their behavior and realize their full potential through mentorship, team building, increasing confidence and leadership skills, safe driving instruction, and instilling a sense of responsibility. Adult mentors in the program are an important source of support for these young people. NYPUM is an effective model for youth development, with 85% of participants reported to have noticeably improved behavior while in the program.

Honda has donated approximately 23,000 minibikes to the program to date and continues to provide support annually.

Since 2019, NYPUM’s partnership with the California State Parks’ Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division provides services for urban youth in California. Often without access to outdoor riding locations, NYPUM programs in urban areas in California utilize the Hungry Valley and Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Areas, which are parks operated by the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division.

The program serves over 1,500 youths each year in more than 32 locations throughout the United States and is tailored to the specific conditions and environment of each area. In 2020, NYPUM programs across the U.S. initially shut down to ensure safety in response to the pandemic. Select programs have been opening back up based on health and safety protocols and local, state, and federal guidelines.

Since 2003, Honda of America Mfg., Inc. has supported Dayton Children’s Hospital in its pediatric injury prevention initiatives. One thousand people are served annually through these programs.

One initiative from Dayton Children’s Hospital is focused on child passenger safety. The Child Passenger Safety and Education program performs routine car seat checks at the hospital and throughout the community. Parents are encouraged to have their child car seat or booster seat inspected by a certified child passenger safety technician. The technicians have extensive training in car seats, cars, and seat belt systems and can answer questions and provide information to parents. The car seat inspections not only check for recalls but also ensure that seats are properly installed. The program also provides safety seats to families who cannot afford to purchase one. Car seats are distributed through local community organizations.

Dayton Children’s Hospital also distributes free helmets and educational information regarding bike safety to children in the community. Helmets are distributed at various community and biking organizations throughout the region. These methods of distribution help build stronger community relationships and allow the program to reach the community in new and innovative ways.

In 1993, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. opened Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center in Estes Park, Colorado in order to promote the expansion of educational opportunities. The school’s mission is to help the most disengaged students find their way back to an appreciation of education. Eagle Rock School supports its students via a unique educational environment that encourages community, integrity, and citizenship.

In addition to providing unique education experiences for students, Eagle Rock School is also home to the Professional Development Center, which works with educators to advise them on new approaches in teaching and making their schools centers of engagement and learning. The Professional Development Center provides these consulting services at school sites around the United States and at its campus in Estes Park.

Going virtual became commonplace in the era of COVID-19, and Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center saw its mountainside campus in Colorado shut down in early March, with all students returning to their homes to prepare for remote learning and ongoing student support. As a result, the school did not have an in-person graduation ceremony. Instead, they had a virtual Celebration of Graduates to honor students who earned their diploma. The event featured a prepared video of faculty speeches, shout outs, virtual journals, remembrances, and even advice from the departing graduates to their friends and current Eagle Rockers.

In 2020, 12 students graduated. Since its establishment in 1993, a total of 308 students have graduated.

Building on its mission of supporting youth and scientific education, the American Honda Foundation (AHF) awarded grants totaling more than $1.5 million to 29 nonprofit organizations from across the United States in 2020. This includes support for programming with emphasis on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM). STEAM education teaches students how to think critically, problem solve, and use creativity, and prepares them to work in growing fields.  

The Foundation’s STEAM grant recipients in 2020 included Latinitas in Texas. Latinitas addresses the underrepresentation of Latina and other women of color in technology fields by offering year-round opportunities for girls ages 9-18 to express themselves creatively through digital media, technology and other STEAM enrichment activities that explore identity, culture and gender. The grant from AHF supported Latinitas to further transition their bilingual STEAM programs to remote learning and provide Spanish language tech literacy for students and parents via live instruction and videos. 

In addition, as part of its 5-year, $2.5 million pledge, the Foundation continued to support its STEM/STEAM Young Men of Color Collaborative Initiative in California. In 2020, partners in this collaborative effort came together to ensure a continuation of services to the students despite the pandemic. Virtual services included academic tutoring and STEAM sessions. Also, through mentoring and leadership development sessions, young men learned to build confidence and character, work in teams, and advocate for themselves. Physical fitness was added to encourage students (and their families) to get moving, relieve stress, and maintain good health. 

The American Honda Foundation was proud to partner with so many unique and impactful organizations in 2020 and continue to support STEAM education in the virtual environment. Since its establishment in 1984, the American Honda Foundation has awarded more than $43 million to organizations serving over 118 million people across the United States.

Honda has supported the success and dreams of students at America's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for more than three decades. Honda supports HBCU students through initiatives like the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC) and Honda Battle of the Bands, as well as scholarship support in partnership with nonprofit organizations. 

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Honda decided to cancel the HCASC National Championship Tournament for 2020. HCASC is a year-round knowledge-based program that enhances educational experiences and personal development opportunities for HBCU students. Funds were allocated from the program for Honda to partner with HBCUs from the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge—including the 48 HBCUs that would have competed in the HCASC National Championship Tournament—on a COVID-19 relief initiative. Through this partnership, funding was provided to address key needs including food insecurity and medical support for families, senior citizens, and those who are homeless. The donations also funded medical supplies and personal protective equipment for frontline healthcare workers in HBCU communities.  

To further support HBCUs during this critical time, Honda continued its partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and provided support for TMCF’s COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund, as well as scholarship funding to HBCU students pursuing an education in engineering, supply chain management, and manufacturing-related fields. Honda associates also developed a virtual "booth" where HBCU students could visit and network during the TMCF Leadership Institute conference. Honda talent management associates participated by answering questions virtually and offering information about co-op and Engineering Development Program opportunities at Honda.  

Finally, Honda provided further educational support for HBCU students through its partnership with UNCF chapters throughout the United States. Associates also participated in the UNCF Virtual Walk for Education by walking in their own neighborhoods, helping to raise awareness for UNCF and critical funds for its mission.

In 2020, Honda R&D Americas, Inc. (HRA), Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA), and American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) continued to support the Center of Science and Industry (COSI), McWane Science Center, and Aquarium of the Pacific to help bring their programs on a virtual stage to youth of all ages. 

COSI is a nationally recognized leader in STEAM education and a Honda partner for over 35 years. In 2020, COSI launched COSI Connects in response to the need for virtual learning. COSI Connects launches audiences of all ages into a universe of science through online videos, activities, and a free mobile app that enables science exploration. COSI Connects is helping to bridge the digital divide, promote digital literacy, and address critical science education needs simultaneously. In addition, HRA continued support of COSI’s other virtual programs, and HRA associates provided support to help refresh and launch COSI’s Meet the Innovators Exhibit virtually. 

To further STEAM education, HMA supported the McWane Science Center’s virtual programs. In response to the pandemic, the McWane Science Center took their educational programs and demonstrations online with digital workshops, live streams, and on-demand videos. 

Further, as a founding sponsor, AHM has been a key partner in the Aquarium of the Pacific’s environmental education, community engagement, and conservation initiatives, including the Honda Pacific Visions Theatre. In 2020, the Aquarium debuted the Aquarium Online Academy and has provided more than 170,000 students, teachers, and families with interactive, grade-specific, virtual science programs. Its education department created 277 videos, representing more than 25,000 hours of viewing time from learners in the United States, Europe, and Asia. To connect the community to the Aquarium during its closure, live-animal webcams provided relaxation and diversion. For teachers and students, Webcam Resource Kits include standards-aligned lesson plans and worksheets utilizing the live-streaming exhibit cams.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in schools across North America pivoting to virtual learning. As a result, education changed dramatically, bringing about a continued need to support teachers and students during this time. American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM), American Honda Foundation (AHF), American Honda Finance Corporation (AHFC), Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA), Honda R&D Americas, Inc. (HRA), Honda of South Carolina Mfg., Inc. (HSC), and Honda Transmission Manufacturing of America, Inc. (HTM) supported local schools and local organizations in their community to help overcome the challenges posed by online learning. This support has included:  

• Donations to 6 local school districts in the Southern California region to purchase equipment needed for virtual learning to provide to students without access to technology. 

• School supply drives held by associates to support teachers in California, North Carolina, and Ohio in their remote teaching efforts. 

• Support for schools and nonprofit organizations in Alabama to upgrade their software to deliver virtual instruction, as well as PPE to ensure the safety of school officials.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation’s (PBTF) Ride for Kids moved to a virtual model in April 2020. Since 1991, Honda has served as a national sponsor of the Ride for Kids, the longest-running, most successful motorcycle charity event in the country. For more than 35 years, PBTF has fueled lifesaving research and family support programs for children and teens with brain tumors, the deadliest disease facing children in the United States, as the world leader in the fight against pediatric brain tumors. 

In 2020, Ride for Kids was scheduled to be held in 25 events across the country including the Los Angeles Ride for Kids at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. headquarters. However, the PBTF shifted to virtual events and adopted a program that encouraged people to ride individually or in small socially distanced groups to show their support for children with brain tumors. All summer long, riders were encouraged to continue their fundraising and show their commitment by developing custom challenges or accepting different ride challenges, such as riding 4,600 miles in support of the more than 4,600 children diagnosed this year with a brain tumor, a challenge to ride every day, and an 8-hour ride to show support for the caregivers who never give up on these children. 

The virtual Ride for Kids also kept alive the tradition of participants earning a chance to win a new Honda motorcycle, with American Honda donating eight motorcycles in support this year. 

Ride for Kids plays an important part in the fight against childhood brain tumors, and Honda and the riders were not going to let a pandemic stop them from supporting these children. 

In 2020, Honda Canada Foundation (HCF) partnered with Kids Help Phone (KHP) as the National Sponsor of its new Back to School program. Kids Help Phone is the only e-mental health solution that provides 24/7 free, confidential, professional online and telephone counseling and volunteer-led, text-based support in English and French to youth across Canada. HCF’s support helps to ensure youth in Canada have access to trusted support services, counseling, and information on mental health and well-being as they return to school.   

When the pandemic first hit at the beginning of March, HCF acted quickly to identify and support local communities with donations of personal protective equipment to hospitals and funds for food banks. HCF then shifted to broaden its response, recognizing that back to school, virtually, looked different for students in 2020, and that additional support was needed to guide them through the transition. 

A recent post-text survey conducted by Kids Help Phone revealed that one in three youth texters experienced distress in having to return to the classroom. Kids Help Phone’s Back to School program helps to address these needs by providing students and educators with access to online tools and resources to support them as they navigate the changing environment of virtual education amidst the pandemic. Resources offered include Counselor in the Classroom for elementary school students, Good2Talk for post-secondary school students, and back-to-school checklists, tips, and additional toolkits for educators.  

Also, six Honda associates enrolled to train to become KHP volunteer phone Crisis Responders. The role of the Crisis Responder is to bring texters from a “hot” moment to a cool calm, and to help them come up with a plan to stay healthy and safe. Crisis Responders are trained to do this using active listening and collaborative problem-solving. 

Honda launched a broad-reaching effort to respond to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This effort was led by a $1 million pledge to foodbanks and meal programs across North America to provide food to the most vulnerable populations. 

The Honda family of companies across North America donated to community organizations that addressed food insecurity in the local communities where associates live and work, with over 50 organizations supported in total. This included organizations such as the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank in California, the Mid-Ohio Foodbank in Ohio, the Irving Schools Foundation Food for Thought program in Texas, the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, and the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama.  

As part of the pledge, Honda also redirected funds from the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge program—a year-round knowledge-based program that enhances educational experiences and personal development opportunities for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) students—to the participating HBCUs to support over 110 charitable organizations within their communities. The pandemic presented severe challenges for these communities, with many disproportionately impacted. The funds helped address key needs including food insecurity and medical support for families, senior citizens, and those who are homeless.  

In addition, Honda implemented a special matching gift program that enabled Honda associates to make monetary donations to food programs in their local communities, matching up to $1,000 for each individual gift. In total the matching gift program resulted in nearly 1,000,000 meals provided to those in need. 

The contributions to address food insecurity were part of a broader effort Honda implemented to provide relief to communities, customers, and dealers during this uncertain time.

Honda undertook a company-wide effort to help provide solutions to many of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, incorporating elements of its manufacturing, design, and engineering abilities in different initiatives to help society and address medical equipment shortages.  

In the initial response, Honda companies inventoried their personal protective equipment (PPE) and donated equipment to local hospitals, medical facilities, and first responders. Honda facilities in North America donated more than 200,000 items to health care providers and first responders, including gloves, face shields, N95 protective masks, alcohol wipes, half-mask respirators, and other types of protective gear.  

In addition, Honda transformed its facilities to assist in manufacturing critical PPE and used design concepts to help address the shortages and healthcare needs faced in response to the pandemic. This included: 

• Producing critically needed face shields by developing new methods to use high-speed injection-molding equipment, ordinarily used in production of vehicle components. Over 120,000 face shields were donated to healthcare workers at 305 medical facilities in 45 states. 

• Partnering to support Dynaflo, Inc. to produce medical-use compressors by providing production support using Honda’s expertise in mass production. Over 30,600 compressors were produced. 

• Leveraging the Fuel Cell System Partnership with General Motors to produce approximately 12,000 gallons of hand sanitizer for use at partner facilities, as well as donating nearly 75% of the allocation to health care facilities in Ohio and Michigan. 

• Retrofitting 10 Odyssey minivans for use by the City of Detroit to safely transport people potentially infected with COVID-19, as well as healthcare workers. To protect the health of the driver from droplet infection during transportation, the Honda Odysseys were retrofitted with a plastic barrier installed behind the front seating area, as well as modifications to the ventilation system to maintain an air pressure differential between the front and rear seating areas.

Building on a longstanding tradition of community volunteering, Honda associates stepped up to support their local communities in a variety of socially distanced ways. From thanking local healthcare workers and setting up neighborhood food pantries to delivering care packages and writing letters to seniors, Team Honda has made social distancing a little easier for neighbors, people in need, and frontline workers. 

Throughout 2020, Honda continued to explore ways to serve local communities across North America while adhering to health and safety guidelines. One of these projects focused on providing face masks to people in need. Associates received mask sewing kits for sewing and assembly at home, and 743 associates from Honda companies throughout North America produced over 41,500 masks, which were distributed within their local communities. 

Honda associates throughout the United States also volunteered to support food insecurity needs in the community. Honda Manufacturing of Indiana (HMIN) sponsored the Million Meal Marathon in the Million Meal Movement to feed people in need in Indiana and promote volunteering. Despite the changes brought on by the pandemic, HMIN kicked off the marathon by hosting a meal-packing event at the plant on October 8, 2020 during which HMIN volunteers stayed socially distant, wore masks, used hand sanitizer, and wore gloves while packing 9,000 meals that went to food pantries and meal programs in communities surrounding the plant. 

Also, Honda volunteers in Ohio partnered with the Mid-Ohio Foodbank Collective and the Ohio National Guard to distribute food to community members in the Marysville, Ohio area. With COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing in place, the distribution allowed families to safely drive into the temporary site while volunteers placed pre-packaged food into the families’ vehicles. During the event, Honda and its partners were able to distribute boxes of food and other essential items to 350 people from 116 families.