Mars Inc. Unveils Research Grant Recipients

Mars Chocolate North America has unveiled the recipients of its inaugural “Mars, Incorporated Chocolate History Grant for Research, Development and Investigative Studies,” which was awarded to three institutions innovating in the areas of chocolate history research, scholarship and education.

Winners were acknowledged at the banquet dinner of the Colonial Chocolate Society annual meeting, which was held at Mount Vernon, Nov 12-14.

"Uncovering the true history, culture and heritage of chocolate in early America has always been a passion point for Mars and we currently work with over 130 living history sites, museums and educational institutions across the US and Canada to discover and share chocolate's historic journey," said Harold Schmitz, chief science officer for Hackettstown, N.J.-based Mars, Inc.

Schmitz added that the grants aim to "recognize partners that are dedicated to this shared vision and encourage others to join us as we continue to share chocolate's unique story.”

Schmitz and Howard Yana-Shapiro, chief agricultural officer, Mars, Inc., awarded grants in the following categories:

Academic Research Grant: $5,000

  • Winner: Ball State University

New Chocolate Programming Grant: $10,000 each

  • Winner: Fort Ticonderoga for its entry for a new Foodways initiative called “Chocolate: The Taste of Liberty”
  • Winner: The Old North Foundation for the expansion of Captain Jackson's Chocolate Shoppe

In addition to the two official grant categories, Mars awarded a special Honorable Mention prize of $3,000 to Old Salem Museum and Gardens for advancements in the areas of chocolate programming.

Mars plans to award the grants on an annual basis, with the submission period for the 2014 awards beginning in June 2014 at www.AmericanHeritageChocolate.com.

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