• by Tanya Gazdik , March 3, 2021

American Honda is supporting young people by sponsoring two separate charitable efforts. 

The nationwide Ride for Kids day, to be held Sept. 12, will help the 28,000 children and teens living in the United States with a brain tumor or central nervous system tumor. It is the automaker’s 30th year as the presenting partner of the motorcycle event, which raises funds for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

Local rides have traditionally taken place on various days throughout the year. After having to adjust in-person ride events to a virtual experience in 2020, the Ride for Kids community’s goal is to elevate awareness and fundraising by hosting every ride across the nation on a single day. The event will continue to offer a virtual do-it-yourself component for riders anywhere.

According to the foundation, the investment of partners like Honda has allowed the organization to fund over $47 million in pediatric brain tumor research to date. Other national sponsors this year include Cycle World magazine, Dunlop, Cardo ScalaRider, Scorpion and the American Motorcyclist Association.

Registrants and fundraisers can win Honda motorcycles, ATVs and/or side-by-sides, along with other fundraising incentives.

Honda also is sponsoring the 32nd Honda Campus All-Star Challenge, where top students from 64 Historically Black Colleges and Universities will compete virtually for a share of more than $350,000 in institutional grants.

During the games, to be held virtually April 17-20, students work together to answer questions about history, science, literature, religion, the arts and pop culture.

Each year, Honda provides more than $350,000 in institutional grants to the participating HBCUs, with the winning school receiving a $75,000 grant. Following the cancellation of last year's National Championship Tournament, Honda redirected the program funds to the participating HBCUs to support over 100 charitable organizations within HBCU communities in 20 states. 

The donations also funded medical supplies and personal protective equipment for frontline healthcare workers in HBCU communities.

Since its inception, more than 200,000 students have participated and Honda has awarded over $14 million in grants in support of HBCU education programs and facilities improvements.

Honda also has partnered with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to provide annual scholarship funding to support HBCU students pursuing an education in engineering, supply chain management and manufacturing-related fields.