NASHVILLE, Tenn. (December 28, 2005) - The Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund provided hope for communities and critical support for charities in need across the nation in 2005. In a year full of challenges brought on by hurricanes and other natural disasters, the Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund, the charitable arm of Nashville-based Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc. (BSAH), donated more than $3 million to deserving charities and non-profits across the country and more than $800,000 to charities in Middle Tennessee. The Trust Fund provided support to nearly 700 organizations near Bridgestone Americas locations across the country and over 80 in the Nashville area.

“The Bridgestone Americas family is committed to giving back to the communities we call home,” said Chris Karbowiak, chair of the Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund and vice president of public affairs for BSAH. “In the Nashville area, as well as many other communities across the United States, the Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund allows us to provide support to the many deserving organizations which are invaluable to our communities.”

In the Nashville area, a diverse range of organizations received funds, including: Tennessee 4-H Foundation; American Red Cross Nashville Chapter; Ronald McDonald House, Nashville; LaVergne Middle School Library; Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee; Warren County Habitat for Humanity; Tennessee Wildlife Federation; Tennessee Performing Arts Center; The Nashville Opera; Tennessee State Museum and many more.

“As a company, Bridgestone Firestone truly cares about making a difference in the lives of people in need,” Nashville Area Red Cross CEO Colleen Zakrewsky said. “The American Red Cross is grateful for the sizeable contributions the company has made to our organization this year, in the face of so many devastating events.”

Along with a donation from the Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund, Bridgestone Corporation of Japan, the parent company to Bridgestone Americas, donated a million dollars to the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. Volunteers from Bridgestone Firestone also teamed up with the Nashville Area Red Cross, Second Harvest Food Bank and the Tennessee Titans for the Titans Drive for Relief. During the weekend event, almost two hundred pints of blood, thousands of pounds of food and more than $260,000 dollars were donated to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund is dedicated to improving the lives of children, protecting the environment and supporting education. In addition, the Trust Fund is a supporter of local arts programs. The Nashville Opera was one of the Trust Fund’s recipients to these programs.

"The Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund has not only been generously supporting the Nashville Opera for more than a decade, their leadership in the community has helped foster relationships with other corporate partners throughout the region, said Carol Penterman, executive director for the Nashville Opera. “We applaud the Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund for their continued vision and generosity."

The Trust Fund is making a difference in communities across Middle Tennessee. “When we lost funding due to a local plant closing, the Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund made it possible for us to continue building houses in Warren County,” said Kay Ramsey with the warren County Habitat for Humanity. “We are excited to have Bridgestone Firestone continually partnering with us. The Trust Fund allows us to build our 12th house locally.”

Nashville-based Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of the Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BSAH, through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures and markets 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 Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund, the philanthropic arm of BSAH, is a charitable trust established in 1952 by Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, a predecessor to BSAH. It contributes millions annually to 501(c)3 organizations in support of causes which champion children’s issues, education, and environment and conservation.