At Honda, we believe in the power of helping others.
Making a difference matters to us. That’s why, in 1992, we created The Honda Foundation to help fund and empower organisations that are focused on helping others.
The Honda Foundation is funded by contributions from Honda Australia, private donors and 90 Centres across the country. For every new Honda vehicle sold in Australia, the Honda Centre donates $10, Honda Australia donates $20 taking the total donation to $30. More than $12 million has so far been donated to hundreds of very worthy causes, including empowering disadvantaged Australians, providing relief for victims of natural disasters and supporting the development of new technologies and research to fight disease.
Who we support
The Honda Foundation acts as a charitable trust, providing financial assistance to charities and organisations doing amazing work across a range of social and environmental issues. These include:
- Supporting the disadvantaged, disabled or those suffering from illness
- Relief for victims of natural disasters
- Promotion of innovation and new technologies
We understand the power of mobility. So, The Honda Foundation also provides a 12-month Loan Vehicle Program which includes registration, insurance and all servicing costs, and is capped at 20 loan vehicles at any one time.
History
In 1977, Honda founder Soichiro Honda made a commitment to a better world, where science and technology create harmony between people and planet. In 1992, Honda Australia launched The Honda Foundation, with the goal of making a difference in the lives of people through giving back to the community that supports them. Since launching, the Foundation has supported a diverse range of charities, both big and small, to continue the valuable work they do in making a difference. Grants have ranged from $500 to purchase bike helmets for children with disabilities to $700,000 for The Fred Hollows Foundation to continue their incredible work in preventing and curing avoidable blindness
Objectives
The Honda Foundation aims to inspire goodwill by donating much needed funds to worthy causes nationwide. We know we have the power to create meaningful change and see it as our responsibility to do so. The Honda Foundation embraces that responsibility by giving back to the community and supporting those charities who work tirelessly to implement change in the lives of Australians.
Trustees
The Honda Foundation is run by a board of five trustees and an administrator. The five trustees include two representatives from Honda Australia – Mr. Stephen Collins and Mr Matthew Evans, two representing the Honda Centres – Mr. Tony Jowett and Ms Leisa Stallard, and barrister Mr. Daniel Preston who represents the community. Our Trustees donate their time to the Foundation, meeting twice a year to discuss applications for funding.
Carolyn McMahon - Chairman
Carolyn is a Director at Honda Australia. With a career at Honda spanning more than 27 years, her expertise is the areas of Transformation, General Management and Leadership and all facets of Business Services. Throughout her time with the company, she has also overseen Sales, Marketing and Product Planning functions. She was appointed to the Honda Australia Board of Directors in April 2017.
Carolyn was appointed to the Honda Foundation Board of Trustees in April 2017 and was recently appointed as its Chairperson.
Leisa Stallard - Trustee
Leisa was appointed as a Trustee of the Board in 2016. Her experience with Honda began in 1993 and two years later, in 1995, she became the Dealer Principal of Blue Ribbon Honda. From this time she has held roles on both State and national dealer councils and advertising committees. As a Trustee, she acts as a dealer representative.
Daniel Preston - Barrister
Daniel was appointed a Trustee of The Honda Foundation in March 2017. He is a Barrister and has previously advised Honda Australia on a range of commercial and strategic matters over the past 15 years. With more than 20 years’ legal experience, his role in the Foundation is to be an independent 'responsible person', with a duty to the community.