Fresh off a recent story of its innovative Mahindra Education Development Commission for the Arts program, the Auburn Hills-based automotive company Mahindra Automotive North America is once again in the news for its practices in community engagement.
The company has awarded $127,000 in grant funding and farm equipment to eight southeastern Michigan non-profits. Each non-profit is associated with urban farming programs in Detroit.
The investment comes as part of the company’s Mahindra Urban Agriculture Grant Program. Since its founding in 2015, the program has awarded 13 local non-profits with $425,000 in funding and farm equipment. Each gift was made to support sustainable farming and gardening in both the cities of Pontiac and Detroit.
"It’s an honor to be affiliated with each of our urban agriculture grant recipients," says Richard Haas, MANA’s President and Chief Executive Officer.
"Their services are truly making a difference, and we couldn’t be prouder of the impact the company’s support is having on increasing accessibility to fresh, nutritious produce at affordable prices to residents throughout the city of Detroit and in Pontiac."
A grant celebration and benefit concert was held Thursday, June 21, at the Lafayette Greens urban garden in downtown Detroit. Seminal Detroit garage rock band the Detroit Cobras played at the event.
Awarded non-profits include American Indian Health and Family Services, Boggs Education Center, Eastern Market Corporation, Full Circle Foundation, The Greening of Detroit, Keep Growing Detroit, Micah 6 Community, and Pingree Farms.
The grant program is part of Mahindra’s RISE mission, which aims to help the communities where it operates.
According to Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group, "There are few better examples of our RISE philosophy in action than the work Mahindra Automotive North America is doing in Detroit."
Click here to read more about Mahindra’s community engagement efforts.
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