Indianapolis, Ind. (July 27, 2006) - Firestone Natural Rubber Company continues its longstanding partnership with Liberia as both the company and the government rebuild in the war-torn country in West Africa. As part of its commitment to Liberia, Firestone will now transport humanitarian materials from charitable organizations to Liberia.

“We recognized that as great as our own need is for materials and equipment to rebuild our operation’s infrastructure, the humanitarian need is even greater,” said Dan Adomitis, president of Firestone Natural Rubber Company. “That’s why we have been hard at work to improve life for Liberians by rebuilding housing, schools and medical clinics. Another way we hope to help Liberia rebound from the devastation of the civil war is by working with other concerned organizations to bring needed items into the country.”

Firestone regularly transports materials and equipment to Liberia and brings back Latex from its rubber operation there. Firestone delivers rice and materials for its employees as well as other needed items, such as books and school supplies, that are distributed to Liberians who need them, regardless of whether they work for Firestone. Now Firestone will work with aid organizations to ship relief items to the country. As part of Firestone’s new donation cargo program, the company will open up space on its ships for the remainder of this year for containers that will carry relief goods and other donated cargo to Liberia.

The cargo space is now available to qualified charitable organizations with the ocean freight expense covered by Firestone. Under the program, each ship headed to Liberia will reserve several containers worth of space for relief goods and other donated cargo. Firestone will accept non-perishable foods, medical supplies, new/used clothing, school books and supplies, and deliver it to Monrovia for the people of Liberia as directed by the donating charity.

Charitable organizations interested in shipping items to Liberia can fill out an application found at the company’s Web site, www.FirestoneNaturalRubber.com and e-mail it to donationcargo@firestonenaturalrubber.com together with a scanned copy of the organization’s 501(C)(3) certificate.