With this latest round of charitable giving announced Wednesday, Honda of America Mfg. Inc. surpassed $75 million in philanthropic contributions to local communities in Ohio to include the Miami Valley. 

Honda's December 2011 corporate grants for Clark and Miami counties totaled $920,000 including Opportunities Industrialization Centralization Center (Clark Co.) for workforce training.  That grant is for $278,000.  A grant of $183,000 went to Edison Community College (Miami Co.) for in-kind donations for college classes.  Another grant for $32,600 went to Brukner Nature Center (Miami Co.).

In Shelby County, Honda presented the Sidney-Shelby County YMCA a $100,000 grant for its capital campaign.  They also presented the City of Sidney $35,000 for development of a public park.  The Alpha Community Center in Sidney received $12,000 for its meals program. 

In Logan County, Honda presented the Hilliker YMCA of Bellefontaine $55,000 for building improvements. Also grants went to organizations in Franklin and Allen counties.

Since 1979, Honda's charitable giving programs have supported numerous local needs.  These include major grants to hospitals, community centers, theaters, food banks, after-school programs, nature preserves and parks. 

Honda started motorcycle production in 1979 and opened its first auto plant in the U.S. in 1982, in Marysville, Ohio.  Today, Honda has the capacity to build 680,000 passenger cars and light trucks at its two auto plants in Marysville and East Liberty.  Honda manufactures automobile engines in Anna and automatic transmissions in Russells Point, with a major distribution center in Troy.