Bridgestone Americas Donates to American Red Cross International Response FundCompany’s contribution part of global team’s donation efforts
Nashville, Tenn. (May 11 , 2005) - On behalf of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc.’s (BSAH) ongoing commitment to community service, BSAH Chairman and CEO Mark Emkes on Tuesday met with Marsha J. Evans, the American Red Cross president and CEO, in Washington, D.C., to present a check for $100,000 to support the relief organization’s International Response Fund.
“The Red Cross International Response Fund has provided and continues to provide invaluable assistance to aid the tsunami victims,” said Mark Emkes, chairman and CEO, BSAH. “The Bridgestone Americas team is happy to support this effort, knowing that it will benefit the long-term growth and recovery of affected communities.”
Bridgestone Corporation, the parent company of BSAH, also recently donated approximately $900,000 to the Japan Red Cross to support additional relief efforts following the tsunami disaster last December. Since 1998, the Bridgestone Corporation and Bridgestone Americas have donated more than $2.5 million to the Red Cross for its various programs.
In its tsunami relief effort, the American Red Cross has and will continue to provide food, water sanitation, vaccinations and relief supplies to hundreds of thousands of survivors of this disaster.
“The American Red Cross is extremely grateful for the outstanding support of Bridgestone Americas,” said Gerald Anderson, senior director, Tsunami Recovery Program for the American Red Cross. “Their compassion and belief in our global humanitarian mission have enabled us to provide immediate lifesaving aid and prepare to provide longer-term assistance to help rebuild families and communities.”
Nashville-based Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc. (BSAH) is the U.S. subsidiary of the Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BSAH and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton and associate and private brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. The companies also produce air springs, roofing materials, synthetic rubber and industrial fibers and textiles and operate the world’s largest chain of automotive tire and service centers.
The American Red Cross is where people mobilize to help their neighbors—across the street, across the country and across the world—in emergencies. Each year, victims of some 70,000 disasters turn to neighbors familiar and new—the nearly 1 million volunteers and 35,000 employees of the Red Cross. Through almost 900 locally supported chapters, more than 15 million people gain the skills they need to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their homes, communities and world. Some 4 million people give blood—the gift of life—through the Red Cross, making it the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work. Marsha J. Evans is the President and CEO of the American Red Cross.
Mark Emkes, chairman and CEO, Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., presents a check for $100,000 to Marsha Evans, the American Red Cross president and CEO. The donation will help support the relief organization’s International Response Fund.
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