The season of giving reveals something powerful: When we invest in education, we're not just fulfilling supply lists, we're fueling futures. Through its Be Moved community engagement program, Mazda partnered with education nonprofit DonorsChoose this Giving Tuesday to deliver critical STEM resources to classrooms nationwide. The initiative injected $250,000 into science, technology, engineering, and math projects, empowering teachers and igniting student potential.
The cornerstone of the partnership was a flash fund of $100,000, which instantly cleared 296 DonorsChoose projects by teachers in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles on Dec. 1. This was swiftly followed by a $150,000 dollar-for-dollar matching initiative designed to fund hundreds of additional STEM projects across the country. The community response was overwhelming, with the entire matching fund being completed in just hours – one of the fastest completions DonorsChoose has ever witnessed. The match funded 579 STEM projects across 714 schools, impacting over 37,000 students. This rapid engagement underscores a powerful collective commitment to education.
For countless dedicated educators, bridging the gap for hands-on learning experiences often means reaching into their own pockets. STEM resources, vital for cultivating critical thinking and problem-solving skills, are frequently the first line item cut when school budgets tighten. This leaves students without the essential tools needed to bring complex concepts to life.
For educators like Amani Abuhabsah-Ghusein in Chicago, who received support through last year's Giving Tuesday initiative, the impact is unmistakable. "Kids are lucky to have all the resources they have for STEM projects," she shared. "I don't know where I'd be without all the resources we've been fortunate enough to receive."
This is Mazda’s second year partnering with DonorsChoose – and its year one results are still having a positive impact in schools like Charles Gates Dawes Fine and Performing Arts Magnet Cluster School. Dawes received $13,300 for classroom projects, becoming one of three schools nationwide to receive a surprise holiday check in 2024. Mazda’s contributions help ensure students have access to microscopes, robotics kits, coding tools, and engineering supplies – tools that transform them into scientists, inventors, and creators.
This commitment embodies Mazda's Be Moved philosophy, which recognizes that real progress stems from communities investing in education. These aren't merely donations; they are declarations of belief in what students can achieve when given the opportunity to explore, innovate, and discover what inspires them.
By equipping classrooms with the tools they need, Mazda and DonorsChoose are not just moving education forward. They are empowering the next generation of innovators who are building the future, today.
