​Using their time and talents, along with the spirit to make a difference in their communities, more than 1,900 volunteers from Honda of America Mfg., Inc. reached a major milestone today by surpassing $1 million in “Dollars for Doers” grants to hundreds of community organizations. Over 13 years, Honda associates have volunteered more than 474,000 hours to local non-profit agencies through the Honda Hero Volunteer Program. Honda started the program in 1995 to encourage associates in their volunteer activities by providing what today is a $250 grant to their organizations after volunteering at least 50 hours in one year. “Honda has long been committed to being a company that society wants to exist, and this starts with the actions of each of our associates.” said Tsuneo Tanai, Honda of America president andCEO. “At Honda, community involvement is based on personal involvement more than financial contributions, and our Honda Hero program is an important way to support associates who are making a difference in their communities.” A wide range of nonprofit organizations, schools, hospitals and athletic teams benefit from the Honda Hero program with volunteers leading 4-H, Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, coaching Little League, refurbishing buildings, assisting in local hospitals, and donating their time to public schools, fire departments and food pantries. Honda awards approximately 600 Honda Hero grants to hundreds of community organizations each year, said Honda Hero Volunteer Coordinator Ginny Milburn. “Many of our volunteers make a difference in the communities by donating their time, expertise and energy,” she said. “This program allows Honda Heroes to direct a significant amount of corporate philanthropy to their most cherished non-profit organizations.” Even so, Milburn said the biggest impact on our communities comes from the volunteers themselves. Based on the national value of $19.51 per hour of volunteer service, as calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 13 years of Honda Hero hours have an accumulated value of more than $9 million. In addition to individually supporting organizations in the community, Honda Hero Volunteers support corporate volunteer activities with organizations that include Rebuilding Together Columbus, Windsor Community Senior Center in Marysville, The Nature Conservancy, and Rachel’s House in Bellefontaine. Much of the volunteering takes place where the majority of Honda of America’s 12,500 associates live – in Union, Logan, Shelby, Franklin, Champaign, Clark, Marion, Auglaize, Allen, Hardin and Delaware counties. Honda of America operates two auto plants an engine plant and a motorcycle plant in west-central Ohio.