Learning about the Mazda Drive for Good program feels like something of an antidote to the recent toxic news that a different car company has been illegally manipulating its diesel vehicle emission tests.
Mazda Drive for Good is a charitable giving initiative that began in 2013 and takes place throughout the holiday season each year. Mazda North American Operations collaborates with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the American Red Cross, American Heart Association and the Mazda Foundation to donate $150 to one of these national charities for every new Mazda vehicle sold or leased during the event. The car buyers can designate which organization they want the donation to go to.
This year’s Mazda Drive for Good initiative takes place Nov. 23, 2015 through Jan. 4, 2016.
There’s another desirable benefit of Mazda Drive for Good: For every Mazda vehicle test-driven during the event, Mazda is donating one hour of charitable service from its employees, dealers and business partners throughout the U.S.
More than $7.6 million and more than 120,000 charitable service hours have already been donated through Mazda Drive for Good.
Mazda Dealer Marketing Groups throughout the U.S. can also select a fifth local charity that gives new Mazda owners the option of donating to a charity closer to home. Puget Sound area dealers have chosen Seattle Children’s Hospital as their local charity option.
At the Seattle Auto Show earlier this month, the Northwest Mazda Dealers group, including Mazda of Everett and Doug’s Lynnwood Mazda, donated a 2016 Mazda CX-5 to Seattle Children’s Hospital. The vehicle will help support the hospital’s Science Adventure Lab program, which educates students in Washington state, focusing on science, technology, engineering and math.
Mazda North American Operations and NBCUniversal have also joined forces for a contest to provide an individual or nonprofit group with an in-kind contribution in the form of goods and services valued at $30,000. For more details, or to nominate a person or nonprofit, see insidemazda.mazdausa.com/Drive4Good. The deadline for entries and nominations is Oct. 28, 2015.
Mary Lowry is an independent automotive writer who lives in Snohomish County. She is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a board member of the Northwest Automotive Press Association.
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