Mazda Heroes Receive New MX-5 Miata 100th Anniversary Editions

Credit: Mazda

Just in time for Christmas, Mazda is handing our new Miata Miata 50th Anniversary Editions to deserving heroes. We first told you about its �Mazda Heroes: Honoring The Human Spirit� program in October. The program asked people to nominate heroes in their communities this year by October 25th. Fifty of those nominees selected by Mazda, based on their demonstrated selfless acts, creative thinking, and contributions to the community, will receive a Mazda MX-5 Miata 100th Anniversary Special Edition.

During the October submission phase, Mazda says it heard countless stories of people putting others first and the positive impact of their work in local communities. It says the selected Mazda Heroes recipients selflessly leveraged personal skills and resources to care for those in need. These �heroes� ranged from young adults creating free grocery delivery services for those at high-risk of contracting the virus, to community members partnering with local restaurants to provide free meals to healthcare workers, to musicians creating curbside concerts for the senior community who had to remain indoors.

So without further ado, the first three heroes being awarded a new Miata are a teacher from Mississippi, a teacher from New Jersey and an ICU nurse from the Woodlands, Texas. You can read their bios below and check out the video to the story below.

TRIANA DAVIS, TEACHER � BYRAM, MISS.

Remote learning has been a challenge for families across the nation, but for some, lack of home computers and internet access have made it especially challenging. At the height of the pandemic, Triana created and personally delivered custom curriculum to her students facing this situation to keep them engaged. Desiring to encourage her students when they missed out on the traditions of graduation, Triana also created special commemorative t-shirts, goodie bags, and custom-engraved medals. Nominated by her wife.

JASON ERDREICH, TEACHER � RANDOPH, N.J.

As a middle school shop teacher, Jason leveraged his technical skills to do more than teach online during the pandemic. Instead, he gathered a team of people with 3-D printers to help make over 12,000 pieces of PPE and other cost-effective equipment needed for shifting to back-to-school teaching environments. While students were remote learning, Jason designed STEM classes for the online format and offered them at little or no charge � in addition to reworking his own typical classes. Nominated by his wife.

CHRISTIE PURVIANCE, ICU NURSE � THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS

As an ICU nurse it is not uncommon to work long, gruesome shifts � but Christie approaches these 15-hour days with deeply-rooted and unmatched compassion. Even when faced with devastating COVID recovery statistics, Christie held to her conviction of treating her patients like family. During the pandemic she has gone above and beyond to comfort patients in their darkest and sometimes final hours. She brings in photos of their families and helps them video chat with one another, leaves sticky-notes of encouragement, and comforts their loved ones. Nominated by her sister.

Additional Mazda Heroes stories will be shared over the coming weeks.