Nashville, Tenn. (Sept. 8, 2005) - The Tennessee Titans are teaming up with Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC and the Nashville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross to spearhead a massive community blood drive and fundraising campaign to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Officials from the Titans and Bridgestone Firestone along with representatives from the Red Cross announced the relief efforts at a news conference Thursday afternoon at The Coliseum. The blood drive will take place Saturday, September 17, from 8:00am until 4:00 pm in East Bank club level at the Coliseum in downtown Nashville.

The event will kick off a weekend-long event, titled “Titans Drive for Relief,” in conjunction with the Titans’ home opener against the Baltimore Ravens. Everyone is encouraged to donate blood at The Coliseum on Saturday. Fans are also encouraged to bring a cash donation or a non-perishable food item, which will go to Nashville’s Second Harvest Food Bank to help area shelters and worship centers housing evacuees from the Hurricane. On Game Day, Sunday, Sept. 18, Red Cross volunteers will be on hand at The Coliseum gates collecting donations for the Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Fund. Only cash and check donations will be collected on game day.

To help jump start the “Titans Drive for Relief” fundraising effort, Bridgestone Firestone and the Titans will each donate a dollar for every seat in The Coliseum -- $69,149 (a total of $138,298) -- to the fund that will go to the Nashville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. This is above and beyond the money the two entities have already donated to Hurricane relief efforts. The NFL and the Bridgestone Global Group of Companies have each donated more than a $1 million dollars to the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Fund.

“We are very fortunate in the community to have such generous organizations as the Titans and Bridgestone Firestone who are taking such a leadership role in giving to the hurricane relief efforts,” said Colleen Zakrewsky, CEO of the Nashville Area Chapter of the Red Cross. “We desperately need cash donations to assist the hurricane victims. I’m confident this great community will answer the call and step up to help during this difficult time. Having an adequate blood supply is part of having a safe community,” Zakrewsky concluded.

“Our entire organization is ready to do everything we can to help the Red Cross assist victims of the hurricane and we’re very proud of the efforts of Steve McNair and his foundation for the work they’ve already done,” said Titans owner K.S. “Bud” Adams, Jr. “Tennesseans always responds in a time of crisis and it’s great to have Bridgestone Firestone provide us with so many great resources to assist those needing our help.”

“It is a privilege for us to be able to join with the Titans and the Red Cross to do what we can to help so many people in need,” said John Gamauf, president, Consumer Replacement Tire, Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC. “We have a very proud tradition of volunteerism and giving back to the community. We are going to work very hard to make this blood drive and fundraising campaign a huge success,” Gamauf concluded.

Fans that cannot make it to The Coliseum over the weekend and want to contribute to the Red Cross can go to any of the 14 Nashville-area Firestone Complete Auto Care stores or 9 Nashville-area TiresPlus stores, which have been designated Red Cross Official Cash Donation Sites.
The “Drive for Relief” event Saturday at The Coliseum will feature games, prizes, giveaways, special Titans guests and cheerleaders and an appearance by Titans Head Coach Jeff Fisher.

“This is a serious cause, but we also want to make it fun for the fans who take the time to come down to donate their money or their blood,” said Don MacLachlan, Executive Vice-President of the Tennesseee Titans. “ With 36 blood donation stations set up in the club level of The Coliseum, we’re hopeful it won’t take long for people to donate blood.”

For more information on the “Titans Drive for Relief” blood drive and fundraising campaign please visit: www.titansonline.com, www.bridgestonetire.com, or www.nashvilleredcross.org or call the “Titans Drive for Relief” hotline at 615-565-4025.

Since the tragedies of 9/11, the Bridgestone Global Group of Companies has donated more than $3 million dollars to The American Red Cross. This marks the second time the Titans have joined forces with team partners following a disaster. Following the 9/11 tragedies, the Titans and its local partners raised $664,000 for “Americas Fund.”