Associates from plants across the region participated in Honda’s Holiday Wish List program, providing toys, gifts and gift cards for 700 families in the area. (Photo submitted)
Associates at Honda of America Manufacturing celebrated the holiday season by helping others in the community.
“Our goal as a company has always been to be a good neighbor and to support communities around us,” said Tom Shoupe, Honda of America Executive Vice President. “Our associates are passionate about supporting Honda’s local communities.”
Through Honda’s Holiday Wish List program and the generosity of Honda associates, 700 families in the region will receive toys, clothing and gift cards just in time for the holidays. These individuals, and countless others, will benefit from multiple collections and drives held the Marysville Auto Plant as well as at Performance Manufacturing Center, the East Liberty Auto Plant and the Anna Engine Plant.
Associates began collecting items in early November, and last week gathered and distributed items to local charities in Union as well as Logan and Shelby counties.
In addition to the Honda Holiday Wish List participation, all the plants took part in Honda’s ‘Hat, Coat and Mittens Drive,’ collecting 1600 items of winter wear for local residents.
Since 1979, when Honda of America Mfg., Inc. established its Ohio operations, the company has donated more than $100 million in philanthropic contributions and Honda associates have volunteered more than 100,000 hours of service.
Earlier in the year, Honda marked its 40th anniversary of manufacturing products in America. Honda was the first Japanese automaker to produce products in America, beginning with motorcycles in 1979, followed by the start of automobile production in Marysville, Ohio, on Nov. 1, 1982.
Over the course of four decades, Honda has steadily grown its manufacturing capabilities in the region. Honda now employs more than 25,000 associates at 12 plants in America with the capacity to produce more than one million automobiles, three million engines, 400,000 power equipment products and 330,000 powersports products each year, using domestic and globally sourced parts. In 2018, nearly two-thirds of all Honda and Acura automobiles sold in the U.S. were made in America.
Cumulatively, Honda has invested more than $20.2 billion in its American manufacturing capabilities, including more than $5.9 billion over the past five years. The company also works with more than 600 original equipment suppliers in America with cumulative parts purchases of nearly $400 billion over 35 years.