July 2008 is Honda Volunteer Month with the theme DRIVEN to MAKE a DIFFERENCE.” During July, Honda associates who volunteer a minimum of five hours for their favorite charity will also help that organization’s bottom line with a $100 donation from Honda.

Honda is very encouraged by the excitement and participation generated by this community involvement project. Honda has a total of more than 450 associates who have signed up to volunteer this month at a wide variety of charitable organizations and assist in many activities at several different sites

“Honda Volunteer Month is driven by our associates and their commitment to the local communities and neighborhoods in which they live,” says Fran Pope, special events coordinator for Honda. “At Honda, we believe it is our responsibility to help make our communities a better place, just as we believe in building products that exceed our customer’s expectations.”

In addition to Honda Volunteer Month, Honda also has a community involvement program named HondaStar that is designed to support volunteer efforts of its associates. This program allows Honda associates and their spouses who volunteer a minimum of 40 hours within a 12-month period to earn a $200 grant for a qualified non-profit organization.

Honda associates can pick a certified non-profit organization of their choice. Of its 4,500 associates, more than 90 percent of the Honda associates live in the following five counties: Calhoun, Etowah, Jefferson, St. Clair and Talladega . So, Honda organized volunteer activities in its primary hiring areas:

- July 12: Mary G. Hardin Center for Cultural Arts – Etowah County - July 12: Birmingham Zoo – Jefferson County - July 19: Salvation Army – Calhoun County - August 2: Talladega College – Talladega County - August 2: Alabama Sheriff’s Youth Ranch – St. Clair County