Mars Provides Opportunity for Historical Research and Study on Chocolate's Influence on Global Heritage and Culture with the Forrest E. Mars, Jr. Chocolate History Research Grant

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., Nov. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mars Wrigley Confectionery announced today that it is currently accepting submissions for its Forrest E. Mars, Jr. Chocolate History Research Grant through December 30, 2018. The grant, now in its sixth year, provides funding for innovation in the areas of chocolate history research, scholarship and education. A total of $50,000 in grant money will be awarded.

"As a leader in preserving chocolate history while championing the future with its work in cocoa sustainability and cocoa science, Mars understands the role chocolate has played, and continues to play, in the international community," said Gail Broadright, Director Mars Sponsorships and Family Properties. "Our objective is to support the institutions and individuals committed to uncovering and presenting chocolate's fascinating history in creative, educational and entertaining platforms. There is still so much more to learn!"

Submissions can be made on the AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate website here. AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate is a line of artisanal chocolate with flavors inspired by ingredient lists from the 18^th century. Developed by Mars Wrigley Confectionery, AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate helps illuminate the stories of our collective history - from chocolate's Mesoamerican roots, dating back over 3500 years, to its place in the lives of European and Colonial American families, to its role in popular culture today. While its rich history provides context for this intriguing global narrative, it is chocolate's future, and its stories of connection, bringing people together across cultures, time and place, that inspires the Forrest E. Mars, Jr. Chocolate History Research Grant to push the boundaries of discovery.

Forrest E. Mars, Jr. Chocolate History Research Grant winners will be announced at the annual meeting of the Heritage Chocolate Society—a group of History professionals formed in 2003 with the mission to investigate the history of chocolate in the Americas and share it with the global community—held January 21-22 in Orlando, Florida. 

Previous grant winners include The Old North Church and Historic Site, The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, Fort Ticonderoga, Virginia Museum of History & Culture, and the New York Historical Society Museum & Library.

About AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate:
In 2003, Mars Incorporated undertook an extensive global research initiative to uncover the history of chocolate and its global impact. A group from Mars led a multi-disciplinary team of more than 115 experts from around the globe who accessed over 200 archives, libraries, museums and private collections to reveal chocolate's origin and history in the Americas. "CHOCOLATE: History, Culture, and Heritage," (Wiley, 2009), has contributions from 45 authors, including researchers, culinary chefs, food scientists and historians from leading historic institutions.

Out of this research project, the AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate brand was developed in 2006 by Mars Chocolate North America (now Mars Wrigley Confectionery) to help educate consumers about the history of our multi-cultural nation through the engaging story of one of our most beloved foods…chocolate!  With a flavour profile drawn directly from the archives of chocolate's historic past, AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate provides an inspiring, versatile way to make, bake, drink, explore, share and show love. With AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate, individuals have a culinary partner for making new stories of their own - from creating to entertaining to educating. Rainforest Alliance Certified™ and made with no preservatives, AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate currently comes in four NEW unique formats: Tasting Squares, Tablet Bars, Grated Chocolate for baking/drinking and Gourmet Hot Cocoa.

In 2015, Mars launched "Great Moments in Chocolate History," a book created in partnership with National Geographic.  "Great Moments in Chocolate History," the first book in a two-book agreement between Mars and National Geographic, is authored by Howard-Yana Shapiro, Chief Agricultural Officer, Mars Incorporated. The book brings chocolate's story to life through detailed information and extraordinary images based on decade's worth of research by Mars and an uncommon collaboration of history leader and food historians. In 2018 Mars and National Geographic published an Educators guide with a 14-week STEM based curriculum for grades 4-8 called, Great Moments in World History: Global Stories Where Chocolate Sparked Discovery, Innovation, and Imagination! More information about both books and chocolate history is available here.

2018 also marks the launch of a partnership with First Book, a nonprofit social enterprise focused on equal access to quality education for kids in need. Their co-programming includes creating special teacher appreciation packages for educators serving children in low income communities across the U.S., offering teachers credit toward purchasing material on the First Book ecommerce platform, and holding virtual classroom experiences with the brand's Chocolate Historian David Borghesani.

AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate is sold in over 100 fine gift shops at historic sites, museums and historic inns across the USA and Canada. The brand can also be found on Amazon.com, at M&M's World in New York City and Las Vegas, and at the Ethel M chocolate store in Henderson, Nevada. For a complete listing, or to purchase online, please visit our store locator on our website.

Learn more about AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate at www.Facebook.com/AmericanHeritageChocolate, on Instagram at @AmericanHeritageChocolate, Twitter @Choc_history, Tumblr @americanheritagechocolate.tumblr.com, and on Pinterest @Chochistory. Or, visit us on YouTube @AmericanHeritageChoc to hear all about "A Day Without Chocolate."

About Mars, Incorporated
Mars is a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. With an excess of $35 billion in sales, the company is a global business that produces some of the world's best-loved brands: M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, UNCLE BEN'S®, MARS DRINKS and COCOAVIA®. Mars also provides veterinary health services that include BANFIELD® Pet Hospitals, Blue Pearl®, VCA® and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire its more than 100,000 Associates to create value for all its partners and deliver growth they are proud of every day.

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

SOURCE Mars Wrigley Confectionery

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