Team Effort At Bridgestone Americas Equips Soccer Teams In Liberia Sports equipment drive across three Bridgestone Americas groups results in more than 500 pounds of athletic gear for Liberian teammates
NASHVILLE, Tenn., INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., and HARBEL, Liberia, West Africa (Oct. 19, 2010) - Soccer’s popularity wanes in the U.S. every four years with the conclusion of the World Cup, but it’s always popular in Liberia, where Firestone Liberia, Inc. (FSLB), part of Firestone Natural Rubber Company, LLC (FSNR), operates a rubber farm. That is why teammates from three Bridgestone Americas companies collaborated to collect more than 500 pounds of soccer gear for Firestone teammates in Liberia.
“In planning a visit to Liberia I wanted to take some soccer gear for kids of Firestone’s Liberian employees, so I put out a simple request to some friends, family and Bridgestone Americas teammates,” said Nashville-based Ken Dillard,Japanese SOX Compliance Manager for Bridgestone Americas, Inc. “That simple request resulted in an unbelievable response from my network, the company and the greater community. What started with my kids’ three soccer balls quickly turned into a donation of several hundred pounds.”
Soccer gear and other sporting goods started rolling in from Dillard’s friends and family, two area soccer clubs, the Tennessee Special Olympics, Hillcrest United Methodist Church, and Bridgestone Americas teammates, among others. The contributions eventually totaled about 500 pounds of soccer balls, shin guards, cleats, goaltending gloves, jerseys, shirts, socks, shorts and other sports equipment. In all, more than 1,300 items were donated, including nearly 200 stuffed animals for children at the Firestone Medical Center in Liberia.
Two key partners in the effort were the Bridgestone Americas companies that donated the transportation. The Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) Lebanon, Tenn., Distribution Center handled shipping the donated goods by truck from Tennessee to Baltimore, Md. From there, FSNR’s Donation Cargo program delivered the donations over sea to the port in Liberia. For the past five years, FSNR’s Donation Cargo program has provided space for relief and other donated goods on each of its ships traveling to Liberia.
“Making these donations really would not have been possible without the generosity of Lebanon teammates and the FSNR Donation Cargo Program,” Dillard said. “Having those incredibly important logistical areas covered was a huge help, and I’m so appreciative to both of those groups.”
The donations were well received in the soccer-crazed country.
“The children love to play soccer here, but finding equipment is a big challenge,” said Peenak Kosandal, FSLB Finance and Analysis Manager in Liberia. “These donations were met with great excitement and highly appreciated. We want to thank our teammates in Tennessee.”
“Our teammates realize they live in a great country and work for an organization that cares about more than just production and profits,” said Steve Clayton, Manager, Lebanon Distribution Center. “This was a unique opportunity to do something good — and show our shared love for soccer — for our teammates in Liberia.”
The team hopes to continue with this effort and to eventually gather enough soccer balls, shoes and jerseys to make a donation to each community division of FSLB’s rubber operations, thereby enhancing sports development in the country.
PHOTOS: Photos are available to the media for free download at
www.thenewsmarket.com/bridgestoneamericasequipssoccerteamsinliberia
About Firestone Natural Rubber Company, LLC:
Firestone Natural Rubber Company, LLC traces its origins back to 1926 when The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company first established a natural rubber production facility in Liberia, West Africa. The company’s Firestone Liberia, Inc. subsidiary operates a 118,000-acre rubber growing and processing facility, employing approximately 6,500 teammates who harvest and process natural rubber and latex. After processing, the natural rubber (dry rubber and liquid latex) is shipped to the United States. The dry rubber is used by Bridgestone Americas’ (Firestone Diversified Products, LLC’s parent company) tire plants throughout North America in the manufacture of tires. The latex is sold to third party North American manufacturers of dipped goods, adhesives and carpet backing. Firestone is one of North America’s leading suppliers of natural latex concentrate. Firestone Natural Rubber Company, LLC is a subsidiary of Firestone Diversified Products, LLC.
Firestone Natural Rubber Company, LLC traces its origins back to 1926 when The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company first established a natural rubber production facility in Liberia, West Africa. The company’s Firestone Liberia, Inc. subsidiary operates a 118,000-acre rubber growing and processing facility, employing approximately 6,500 teammates who harvest and process natural rubber and latex. After processing, the natural rubber (dry rubber and liquid latex) is shipped to the United States. The dry rubber is used by Bridgestone Americas’ (Firestone Diversified Products, LLC’s parent company) tire plants throughout North America in the manufacture of tires. The latex is sold to third party North American manufacturers of dipped goods, adhesives and carpet backing. Firestone is one of North America’s leading suppliers of natural latex concentrate. Firestone Natural Rubber Company, LLC is a subsidiary of Firestone Diversified Products, LLC.
About Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) is a business unit of Bridgestone Americas, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. Reporting into the BATO business unit are the company's Latin American tire operations; the U.S. and Canadian consumer tire businesses; the U.S. and Canadian commercial tire businesses; and Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC, which operates the largest network of company-owned automotive service providers in the world. BATO develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The business unit is focused on retail, wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in the Americas. In addition, through its Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions unit, retreading customers have access to industry-leading research and development, manufacturing, marketing and sales expertise, providing them with a total tire solution.
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) is a business unit of Bridgestone Americas, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. Reporting into the BATO business unit are the company's Latin American tire operations; the U.S. and Canadian consumer tire businesses; the U.S. and Canadian commercial tire businesses; and Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC, which operates the largest network of company-owned automotive service providers in the world. BATO develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The business unit is focused on retail, wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in the Americas. In addition, through its Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions unit, retreading customers have access to industry-leading research and development, manufacturing, marketing and sales expertise, providing them with a total tire solution.
About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BSAM 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 Western Hemisphere and produce air springs, roofing materials, and industrial fibers and textiles. The BSAM family of companies also operates the world’s largest chain of automotive tire and service centers. Guided by its One Team, One Planet message, the company is dedicated to achieving a positive environmental impact in all of the communities it calls home.
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BSAM 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 Western Hemisphere and produce air springs, roofing materials, and industrial fibers and textiles. The BSAM family of companies also operates the world’s largest chain of automotive tire and service centers. Guided by its One Team, One Planet message, the company is dedicated to achieving a positive environmental impact in all of the communities it calls home.