Auto giant Nissan continues to give back to communities across Mississippi, announcing Thursday a $40,000 grant from its foundation to support student field trips to the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson.
Nissan, which has a manufacturing site in Canton employing more than 5,000, said the field trip funds will be distributed for the 2025-26 school year. It will help offset costs related to admission, transportation, and on-site lunches, expanding access to the Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum for thousands of students.
“The support from the Nissan Foundation ensures more young Mississippians can engage with the state’s rich and complex history at no cost to their families or schools,” a press release reads.
Katie Blount, executive director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, is grateful for Nissan’s support. The automaker has been contributing to the Two Mississippi Museums since before their opening in 2017, donating $500,000 for the creation of the Nissan Cafe, and supporting education initiatives consistently over the past eight years.
“We are deeply grateful for the Nissan Foundation’s continued investment in our education initiatives,” Blount said. “This gift allows us to explore history in a dynamic and meaningful way at a world-class museum complex.”
Nissan Foundation senior manager for philanthropy Ali Tonn said the gift to the Two Mississippi Museums is a prime example of causes the foundation likes to give back to. Since its founding in 1992, the Nissan Foundation has contributed nearly $18 million to 150-plus nonprofit organizations across the U.S.
“The most meaningful change often starts at the local level with people listening, learning, and lifting one another up,” Tonn said. “Our 2025 grantees create space where cultural curiosity thrives, and community bonds are strengthened. It’s a privilege to support organizations that are not only educating and inspiring but also helping to bond and unite.”
The Two Mississippi Museums are located at 222 North State Street in Jackson and are open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. More information on the museums can be found here.
