College Bound

Cerritos, CA, Dec. 10, 2009 – College Bound will be featured on Honda’s Rose Parade float, “Ship of Dreams,” during the 121th Rose Parade on Friday, Jan. 1, 2010 at 8 a.m. PST. The Honda float is a three-masted sailing ship captained by a model of the company’s ASIMO humanoid robot and featuring seven of Honda’s philanthropic partners that help improve the lives of children.

Representatives from each of the organizations will be riding on the float when it sets sail in front of millions of viewers watching from around the world. Riding for College Bound are 14-year-old Xavier Brackett and his father Sheldon Brackett. Xavier’s favorite subjects are math and science, which he hopes to utilize as an automobile designer. Xavier, a ninth grader at Torrance High School, is a member of the United States Achievement Academy, an award winning trumpet player, and golf enthusiast. Xavier has been a College Bound student since 2005.

“College Bound prepares students like Xavier for admission and graduation from college. Our formula works because we instill in our students a love of education early, and we require both our students and parents to attend classes to provide the foundation for the student’s success. Xavier and Sheldon are an excellent example of our College Bound families. As a featured philanthropic partner on the Honda float, we are excited to introduce College Bound to the community at large,” says College Bound founder Johnnie Savoy.

The sails on the 45-foot-tall, 75-foot long Ship of Dreams feature the names and logos of the seven Honda partners, also including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County, National Youth Project Using Minibikes (NYPUM), Pediatric Therapy Network, Ride for Kids, Special Olympics Southern California, and Students Run L.A.

“As one of the longest-running sponsors of the Tournament of Roses, every year we try to do something extra special with our float entry and this year is no exception. We’re thrilled this year to shine a light on some of our long-time community partners that help fulfill the dreams and needs of children,” said Stephan Morikawa of American Honda Corporate Community Relations.

As part of Honda’s sponsorship of the Tournament of Roses, the 2010 Acura ZDX will lead the parade as the pace car. And, annually Honda provides vehicles, Metropolitan scooters and generators for use by Tournament personnel. Honda’s multipurpose utility vehicle, Big Red, will also make its Rose Parade debut this year. Honda’s Rose Parade float entries have captured major awards in 14 out of the last 15 years. Honda has featured the float and each organization at: http://corporate.honda.com/ShipofDreams.

About Honda
This year marks Honda’s 50th anniversary in the U.S. The company began operations in the U.S. in 1959 with the establishment of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Honda’s first overseas subsidiary. Honda began U.S. production of motorcycles in 1979 and automobiles in 1982. The company has invested more than $12.1 billion in its North American operations with employment of nearly 28,000 associates, and annual purchases of more than $17.5 billion in parts and materials from suppliers in North America. Honda vehicles are manufactured using domestic and globally-sourced parts.

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