Mars Chocolate Names Winners of Its Fourth Annual Forrest E. Mars, Jr. Chocolate History Research and Investigative Studies Grant

Mars Chocolate North America has awarded the Forrest E. Mars, Jr. Chocolate History Research and Investigative Studies Grant to three institutions across the U.S. in the areas of research and chocolate programming. Winners were acknowledged at the 13th Annual banquet dinner of the Colonial Chocolate Society held at Ellis Island, in New York, NY.  The Colonial Chocolate Society is a group whose mission is to further the study of chocolate's rich history and its impact on past and present culture in the Americas.

"Chocolate history is an important part of who we are at Mars," said Gail Broadright, Director Mars Sponsorships. "Each year we have the incredible opportunity of furthering the discovery and interpretation of chocolate's unique role in our collective heritage. Our grant winners represent some of the innovators in this space, and we are thrilled to support their work, bringing chocolate history and the history of the Americas into the lives of their visitors."

Williams Clements, Vice President, Sponsorships & Sports Marketing, Berta de Pablos, Vice President Marketing, and Tracey Wood, Vice President, People and Organization Mars Chocolate North America awarded grants for development of the following:

We Make History: Program creation to bring to life the role of chocolate in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars for more than 500 students in over a dozen schools in Tuscon, Arizona

The Betsy Ross House: Research the 18th century mills that processed chocolate and to understand the role that chocolate played in the lives of free and enslaved Africans in 18th century America

Genesee Country Village & Museum: Research the many ways that chocolate was used in 19th century food preparation

Last year's grant winners—The Fort Ticonderoga Association, Friends of Fort Ontario and Old North Church Foundation of Boston, Inc.—made presentations to their peers during the annual meeting highlighting how last year's funds were used to meet institutional goals.

Mars plans to continue to award grants on an annual basis and the submission period for the 2017 awards begins in the summer of 2017 at www.AmericanHeritageChocolate.com.  American Heritage Chocolate is an authentic line of products based on ingredient lists from the 18th century developed by Mars Chocolate North America. American Heritage Chocolate brings chocolate's sweet past to life for historic site visitors through chocolate history demonstrations, chocolate drink sampling and retail products for in home use.