NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Bridgestone Retail Operations plans to donate $840,000 to support COVID-19 relief efforts at Boys & Girls Clubs across the country.
The contribution — which represents the amount of customer donations collected at Bridgestone's network of 2,200+ tire and automotive service centers during the first quarter — will go to a COVID-19 relief fund set up by Boys & Girls Clubs of America to ensure club staff, youth, families and communities have the resources and support needed to navigate challenging circumstances during the ongoing global health pandemic.
The donation builds on Bridgestone's longstanding commitment to help youth gain access to Boys & Girls Clubs of America's high-impact, out-of-school programming. Since 2015, Bridgestone has raised and contributed $10.5 million through its Driving Great Futures initiative.
The donation totaled nearly $4 million in 2019 alone.
In addition to collecting monetary donations, Bridgestone said its employees donate company time to service Club vehicles and volunteer at Clubs in their local communities. The program is part of the company's Our Way to Serve corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitment to improve the way people move, live, work and play.
"We'd like to thank our Bridgestone customers for their generous in-store donations to Boys & Girls Clubs of America," Joe Venezia, president, Bridgestone Retail Operations, said.
"While these donations are always important, the funds we received in Q1 will now help continue the essential services Boys & Girls Clubs are providing children, families and local communities during the COVID-19 crisis."
Bridgestone Retail does business under the Firestone Complete Auto Care, Tires Plus, Hibdon Tires Plus and Wheel Works brands.
There are more than 4,700 Clubs in the U.S. serving over 4.7 million young people through Club membership and community outreach.
According to the group, donations to the fund will be used for:
- Distributing food, bottled water and other necessary supplies;
- Operating for longer hours, particularly in parts of the U.S. that are deeply impacted especially for families of first responders;
- Crafting and implementing contingency plans to meet community needs, including when and how to reopen, event planning contingencies, etc.; and
- Providing emergency relief funding to support Clubs in the communities hit hardest by the pandemic.
More information is available at Boys & Girls Clubs COVID-19 Relief Fund.