Tokyo, April 2nd: The “Fourth Annual Support Our Kids Charity Auction” was held in order to raise continuing, independent aid for the children who suffered in the Great East Japan Earthquake, and this year a home stay program was announced to invite 10 children from disaster areas to the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

As a secondary event to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, now in its 90th year, the Mazda 787B, which was selected for the Best Machine of the 1990s award, is scheduled to conduct a demonstration run. Additionally, the hosting organization of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the ACO, along with the French Embassy, Michelin Japan and Mazda have all pledged to help fund the home stay program. Celebrities, including sports athletes and famous performers, put up beloved personal items for bid and, all told, 400 financiers and prominent figures have contributed funds to the charity proceedings. Mazda Motor Corporation's Global Sales and Marketing Executive Officer Masahiro Moro was present at the event and provided this comment: “The damage from the Great East Japan Earthquake still runs deep, and many people are facing a long road to recovery. We at Mazda think it is a great honor to have the opportunity to support the Le Mans Home Stay Program, with whom we already have a long-standing relationship, and which is focusing its efforts on the children of Tohoku, who will take on the challenges of both the recovery of the region, as well as the growth of Japan as a nation. I'd like to express my sincere gratitude to the French Embassy for their support, and to the ACO for their cooperation as our hosting organization. I look forward to being able to see the children's smiling faces at Le Mans.”

The NPO entity, “Creative Workshop for the Next Generation”, which seeks to provide a wholesome upbringing for kids who need societal support, planned this auction. The proceedings will go towards home stays in countries participating in Support Our Kids, scheduled to include the U.S., U.K., Canada, France, New Zealand, Australia, Belgium and Ireland, towards relief activities in disaster areas, including educational support in the form of school visits.