Metro Detroit Mazda Dealerships Raise $24,200 for 4 Metro Detroit High Schools

Four Metro Detroit high schools will receive a combined $24,200 in donations following a series of community fundraising events hosted by local Mazda dealerships through Mazda’s Be Moved Drive Program this September.

The events brought together students, families, community members and local Mazda dealerships to support educational programs, athletic resources and student safety at Holly High School, Troy High School, Farmington High School and North Farmington High School.

Through the Be Moved Drive Program, Mazda donates $50 to participating schools for every qualified test drive completed, with up to $10,000 available per event. The four Metro Detroit events generated hundreds of vehicle experiences and demonstrated the impact of partnerships between local schools, dealerships and the communities they serve.

The events were hosted in partnership with Serra Mazda of Brighton, Suburban Mazda of Troy and Suburban Mazda of Farmington Hills.

The fundraising results and designated uses of the donations include:

• Holly High School:Serra Mazda of Brighton will donate $2,950 to the school's athletic department following 59 qualified test drives at the Sept. 11 event. Funds will support athletic department needs, including travel, critical medical equipment and other resources.
• Troy High School:Suburban Mazda of Troy will donate the full $10,000 to the school's science department following the Sept. 18 event. The funds will support the development of a new greenhouse and outdoor learning space for hands-on science education.
• Farmington High School:Suburban Mazda of Farmington Hills will donate $6,850 to the school's athletic department following 137 qualified test drives at the Sept. 26 event. Funds will help purchase a portable Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for athletic teams and support improvements to athletic facilities.
• North Farmington High School:Suburban Mazda of Farmington Hills will donate $4,400 to the school's athletic department following 88 vehicle experiences at the Sept. 27 event. Funds will support athletic department needs, including travel, critical medical equipment and other resources.

“We’ve been part of the Troy community for many years, and we believe being a local dealership means more than selling and servicing vehicles. It means supporting the community we serve,” said Shawn Leline, general manager of Suburban Mazda of Troy. “Through the Be Moved Drive Program, we have an opportunity to provide $10,000 to Troy High School’s science department and help create a greenhouse that students and teachers will be able to use for years to come.”

The greenhouse and outdoor learning space will expand opportunities for hands-on environmental science education at Troy High School. The project will provide students with a dedicated space to grow plants, conduct scientific investigations, collect and analyze data, and explore sustainability concepts. It will also support Biology and Chemistry curricula and create opportunities for interdisciplinary learning.

“The greenhouse will provide hands-on environmental science experiences for our students and give us a dedicated space to grow plants, conduct scientific investigations and gather and analyze data over longer periods of time,” said Autumn Spiteri, science teacher at Troy High School. “It will also support biology and chemistry while creating more opportunities for interdisciplinary learning and helping students explore sustainability concepts firsthand.”

At Farmington High School, the donation will help the athletic department purchase a portable AED that can accompany student-athletes during practices and activities away from campus, including cross-country training at local parks. The remaining funds will support improvements to the school's stadium and indoor and outdoor athletic facilities.

“Suburban Mazda of Farmington Hills has supported our school and athletic department for several years. Partnering with a local dealership on this event was a no-brainer, as it helps bring together the community,” said Natalie Yarber, athletic coordinator at Farmington High School. “Best of all, profits from today go to the school directly, back into education and the local community.”

Yarber said the portable AED will provide an important safety resource for athletic teams, particularly when they practice off site.

The Be Moved Drive Program connects Mazda dealerships, schools and local communities through events that encourage residents to experience Mazda vehicles while supporting local educational initiatives. The program also reinforces Mazda's commitment to helping develop safer drivers and stronger communities.

Together, the two events supported by Suburban Mazda of Farmington Hills generated a combined $11,250 for Farmington and North Farmington high schools.

“It's a great opportunity for us to connect with both our school partners and the local community,” said Scotte Spencer, general manager of Suburban Mazda of Farmington Hills. “Without our community, we'd be irrelevant. Our dealership has a long relationship with the local Farmington high schools and wanted to take it to the next level.”

Spencer added that the events provide an opportunity to introduce families and future drivers to Mazda vehicles and the brand's approach to safety.

The Metro Detroit fundraisers build on the Be Moved Drive Program's first year, when Mazda dealerships raised more than $128,000 for schools nationwide. In its second year, Mazda continues to invest in local communities, helping students discover what inspires them and strengthening connections between schools, dealerships and the neighbors they serve. For more information about the Mazda Be Moved Drive Program, visit www.mazdabemoveddrive.com.