Mazda Foundation Announces 2022 Funding Grants

The Mazda Foundation (USA) Inc. and its trustees have announced their plans to provide $495,000 to 11 organizations through its yearly grant-giving process. This funding will assist with four new programs for 2022 as the foundation continues to build partnerships with organizations across the United States to help address food insecurity.

With the addition of these new programs, the Mazda Foundation’s partnerships now serve populations across several major metropolitan areas throughout the United States, with funding concentrated in Southern California and the greater Huntsville, AL, area. These are areas in which Mazda has centered its headquarters and its new U.S.-based manufacturing plant.

“The awards we’re announcing today aim right at the heart of the cycle of poverty,” said Tamara Mlynarczyk, manager of public affairs for Mazda North American Operations and president of the Mazda Foundation (USA), Inc. “Too many Americans lack access to education and resources that will help them secure employment in our rapidly evolving economy. We hope that we can play a small role in helping people across the country reach their full potential and find financial security."

The Mazda Foundation says that this year’s awards will extend STEM education and workforce opportunities to underserved young adults in high school and beyond.
Some examples of the targeted programs include:
- A culinary training program at Bracken’s Kitchen (Garden Grove, CA)
- A holistic educational and job mentoring program established by College Track L.A. (Los Angeles, CA)
- A factory automation competition for high school and community college students developed by the Robotics Competition and Education Foundation (bringing their program to Huntsville, AL)
- An automotive technician training program for formerly incarcerated individuals established by Vehicles for Change (Halethorpe, MD).
- Support for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County (Irvine, CA)
- Support to five food banks in Texas, Illinois, and New Jersey
- FUSE Studio (funding a program in Southern California)
- AVID Center (funding a program in Madison, AL)

The Mazda Foundation has donated more than $14.8 million to children’s organizations, educational scholarships, food banks, environmental programs, and disaster relief efforts since 1992.

John Goreham is a long-time New England Motor Press Association member and recovering engineer. John's interest in EVs goes back to 1990 when he designed the thermal control system for an EV battery as part of an academic team. After earning his mechanical engineering degree, John completed a marketing program at Northeastern University and worked with automotive component manufacturers, in the semiconductor industry, and in biotech. In addition to Torque News, John's work has appeared in print in dozens of American news outlets and he provides reviews to many vehicle shopping sites. You can follow John on TikTok @ToknCars, on Twitter, and view his credentials at Linkedin

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