Bridgestone supporting NHL diversity/inclusion initiatives

NASHVILLE — Bridgestone Americas Inc. is committing $200,000 to the National Hockey League Foundation to support NHL diversity and inclusion initiatives that will create more access to the sport for children and youth in Las Vegas and Nashville.

The donation, partially funded by the Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund, will benefit the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation and Nashville Predators Foundation and support new community outreach projects in both cities, Bridgestone said, noting the pledge advances its commitment toward building an inclusive world that celebrates equality and promotes diversity.

"Bridgestone strives every day to create a workplace that celebrates equality and promotes diversity and we want to work with partners who can help extend these efforts into our communities," CEO and President Paolo Ferrari said.

"We've seen how sports can create new opportunities, build networks of structure and support, and ultimately help drive positive social change. Together, we can develop solutions that help build a more inclusive world for tomorrow's generations."

Bridgestone has been a Predators sponsor since 2010 when it secured naming rights to the Predators' stadium in downtown Nashville, and during the 2020-21 season the company's "B Mark" logo will be displayed on the players' helmets.

The donation will help fund the construction of a ball hockey rink for local Boys and Girls Club in Las Vegas and a youth hockey diversity program in Nashville, Bridgestone said.

The disclosure coincides with the announcement that Bridgestone will sponsor the first of a pair of NHL games to be held Feb. 20-21 on a rink being set up at the Edgewood Tahoe Resort in Stateline, Nev., on the Lake Tahoe lakefront.

The Feb. 20 game, known as the Bridgestone NHL Outdoors Saturday, will pit the Golden Knights against the Colorado Avalanche, while the Feb. 21 game will feature the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers in the Honda NHL Outdoors Sunday. Both games will be broadcast at 3 p.m. ET on NBC in the U.S. and on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada.

NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe continues the NHL's tradition of staging outdoor games during the regular season, with the upcoming games in February marking the 31st and 32nd such events since 2003.

"We are thrilled to work with Bridgestone, a longstanding NHL partner, on projects that intentionally empower children from diverse backgrounds to experience the benefits of hockey," according to Kim Davis, senior executive vice president of social impact, growth initiatives and legislative affairs, at the NHL.

"The ball hockey rink in Las Vegas and Nashville Predators Youth Hockey Diversity program are two powerful examples of the movement for inclusion that is accelerating across the hockey community," Ms. Davis said. "The NHL and the NHL Foundation are proud to have a partner in Bridgestone as we continue our efforts to ensure hockey is for everyone by engaging grassroots communities who represent the future of our game."