Here are some heroes who won a free 100th Anniversary Miata from Mazda

Here’s some positive news we could all use in these difficult times. Earlier this year, Mazda asked people to nominate individuals in their communities who have gone above and beyond for the sake of others. Mazda would then select fifty deserving samaritans to each win a brand new 100th Anniversary Edition Mazda MX-5 Miata. Here’s the first few picks.

Jason Erdreich of Madison, New Jersey is a high school shop teacher who, when personal protective equipment was running short in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, designed 3D-printable gear and turned his school’s dormant 3D printers into a mini PPE factory. He donated 12,000 pieces to emergency workers and got other teachers to do the same. Obviously Jason is a great guy but what really got us is that he already drives a Miata, a caged NA that you can see in the video above.

Christie Purviance is an ICU nurse in Humble, Texas nominated by the wife of a patient whose life she saved. The wife couldn’t be in the same room as her husband, who was on a ventilator and on the brink of death for 18 days. Christie not only did her duties, but exhibited great humanity by letting her patients Zoom call with loved ones. All the while, she was self-quarantining from her 7-month-old baby so she could continue to do her much-needed job.

Triana Davis is a fifth grade teacher from Byram Mississippi. When schools shut down due to the pandemic, she went through great lengths to personally check on every one of her students and make sure distance learning did not set back their educations. She delivered homework packets, care packages, and home-made graduation shirts door to door to make sure they stayed engaged and cared for. Now, she’ll be able to deliver those things in a brand new Miata.

There are two others who don’t have accompanying videos. Leandro De Arauja Pessoa heads a food kitchen in Lansing, Michigan even though he lost his job early in the pandemic. He’s been using much of his unemployment checks and time to make sure those less fortunate in his community can eat. Michael Star Thompson volunteers at a homeless shelter and coaches a youth football camp. Because the kids can’t play during the pandemic, he’s been coaching the kids one-on-one. And finally, West Virginia’s Jennifer Williams is another teacher who went out of her way to reduce the burden on parents and students during the pandemic. She went door to door to deliver assignments, care packages, and school supplies, and has been teaching students home skills like cooking so they can help their families during lockdown.

In Japan, the concept of omotenashi means putting others’ needs before your own. Mazda says they wanted to give the cars to people who exemplified this spirit. There’s no doubt these six people have demonstrated that in spades and are wholly deserving of one of the best new cars on the market. Mazda still has many more Miatas to give away, and will be revealing those winners throughout the month of December.