Firestone Agricultural Tire Division and Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions Donate To Red Cross Central Iowa Chapter$100,000 Donation To Aid Flood Victims
Des Moines, Iowa (July 18, 2008) – Representatives from Des Moines-based Firestone Agricultural Tire, a division of Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (FSAG) and Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions (BBTS) of Muscatine today donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross’ flood relief efforts across Iowa.
The donation reflects the combined resources of FSAG, BBTS, BFS Retail & Commercial Operations and Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., the parent company of the other three business units.
“We are always looking for opportunities to give back to the communities where we live and work. It is rewarding to see how dramatically the quality of life can improve for families with the aid given from the Red Cross,” said Ken Allen, Vice President, FSAG. “The American Red Cross continues to provide invaluable assistance to those affected by the storms, funded by many who felt as we do about their good work, and we are happy that we were able to help support those efforts.”
Since flooding began, the American Red Cross has been operating shelters in the area where hundreds of residents have taken refuge. To date, the American Red Cross has sheltered more than 1200 people, assisted more than 7000 families and served nearly 800,000 snacks and meals.
“We are extremely pleased that so many organizations like Bridgestone Firestone are stepping up to help in our Iowa communities,” says Jodi Warth, Chief Development Officer for the American Red Cross, Central Iowa Chapter. “Iowa families are getting back on their feet and continuing on with life, but there is still so much work to be done. We count on generous donations, like this one, to carry out our humanitarian mission to help those suffering losses after a disaster strikes.”
Those interested in pledging their support to the relief efforts can contact the Red Cross of Iowa at 515-243-7681 or visit www.desmoines-redcross.org. Volunteer hours, financial contributions and charitable donations will help ensure that many more families receive aid as they work to recover from the effects of the floods.
Photo ID from left to right: Brooke Mehaffey – Director, Louisa Red Cross Unit, Muscatine, Jodie Warth – Chief Development Officer, Red Cross of Central Iowa, Ken Allen – Vice President, BFS Agricultural Tire Division, Jim Brooks – District Manager, BFRC, David Frerichs – Store Manager, BFRC, Cara Fuller – Vice President, Human Resources Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions, Larry McCormick – Division Controller, BFS Agricultural Tire Division
About Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc.:
Nashville, Tenn.-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 and associate 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 are also engaged in retreading operations throughout the world and produce air springs, roofing materials, synthetic rubber and industrial fibers and textiles. The BSAH family of companies also operate the world’s largest chain of automotive tire and service centers.
About Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions:
Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions (BBTS), a division of Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC, manufactures, markets and sells medium and heavy duty truck tires for the original equipment and replacement markets in the United States and in Canada through Bridgestone Firestone Canada Inc. Bridgestone, Firestone and Dayton brand truck tires are available through more than 2,500 dealers and truck stops across the U.S. and Canada. Around the world, top truck fleets and original equipment manufacturers rely on Bridgestone and Firestone brand tires for long tread life and low cost per mile. In addition, through its Bandag brand, Bandag retreading dealers have access to industry-leading research and development, manufacturing, marketing and sales expertise. This combination of new and retread product offerings, combined with BBTS’ commercial retail operations doing business as TDS, GCR Tire Centers and White Tire, provides trucking customers with total tire solutions.
About Firestone Agricultural Tire:
Firestone Agricultural Tire (FSAG), a division of Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC, is the industry leader in the manufacturing, marketing and sale of agricultural tires. FSAG’s Des Moines, Iowa, facility is located in the heart of America’s farm belt and supplies half of the North American original equipment market and about 40 percent of the replacement market with agricultural tires. FSAG also has approximately 50 percent of the market in harvesting and planting machinery. The FSAG testing facility, located in Columbiana, Ohio, is the only facility in the world solely dedicated to the development and testing of agricultural tires. In addition to agricultural tires, FSAG markets and sells forestry, ATV and construction tires.
About BFS Retail & Commercial Operations, LLC:
BFS Retail & Commercial Operations, LLC (BFRC) is headquartered in Bloomingdale, Ill., and operates the largest number of company-owned automotive retail generalist stores in the world — more than 2,000 vehicle service and tire locations across the United States — including Firestone Complete Auto Care™, Tires Plus™, ExpertTire™ and Wheel Works™ store locations. Credit First National Association and Firestone Complete Fleet Care™ operations are also part of BFRC. BFRC is a member of the Bridgestone Americas family of companies.