• by Tanya Gazdik , October 27, 2020

Honda and Ford are making huge financial commitments to nonprofits that support youth learning and Latina-owned small businesses affected by the pandemic.

The American Honda Foundation has awarded grants of more than $700,000 to nonprofits across the nation during the spring and summer funding periods to support programming with specific emphasis on science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM), as well as the environment.

The funding from the American Honda Foundation will help to enhance and diversify STEAM education programs in Alabama, California, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts and New York. 

The goal is to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers, said Alexandra Warnier, executive director of the American Honda Foundation.

Since its establishment in 1984, the foundation has awarded more than $43 million to organizations serving over 118 million people across the country. A website explains the grant application process. 

Meanwhile Ford Motor Co. and its philanthropic arm, Ford Motor Co. Fund, are launching a $400,000 initiative to provide access to capital, educational resources and networking opportunities for Latina small-business owners  impacted by COVID-19.

Beginning today, Latina small-business owners nationwide can apply for a $5,000 grant. Monthly webinars are planned for 2021 to provide educational resources and networking opportunities.

The new program is an extension of Ford Fund’s signature Ford Driving Dreams initiative that has delivered more than $10 million in scholarships and educational resources for over 200,000 middle and high school students across the United States, Puerto Rico, Latin America and Europe.