Access to safe and reliable transportation is one of the biggest hurdles youths face when participating in after-school activities.
The new van, donated to Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan Baltimore by Bridgestone, will help area Club kids travel to and from their Clubhouses and other enrichment activities.
The Bridgestone Driving Great Futures initiative has raised $15.3 million for Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide since 2015.
Baltimore, MD - Bridgestone Retail Operations (Bridgestone), a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas, surprised Baltimore area youth on Thursday, December 16, by unveiling a new passenger van donated to Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore (BGCMB). The new van will provide Club kids with safe and reliable transportation to and from their Clubhouses and other enrichment activities, giving more kids and teens access to high-impact, out-of-school programming. The donation is part of the Bridgestone Driving Great Futures initiative, which has helped kids and teens connect with Boys & Girls Club resources across the U.S. since 2015.
Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan Baltimore is one of 12 Clubs nationwide to receive a grant from Bridgestone to purchase a new passenger van equipped with Bridgestone Dueler H/L Ecopia 422 Plus tires. MileOne Autogroup partnered with the Club to source the van amid the current industry challenges associated with new vehicle availability. The new van will help Club kids and families overcome the obstacle of access to transportation to and from the Club, as well as allow for field trips, college tours and other enrichment activities. Bridgestone will also support BGCMB by maintaining the new vehicle to ensure that it stays in good working order.
“After-school activities help young people develop crucial life skills and thrive far into the future,” said Marko Ibrahim, president, BSRO.
“Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore is a pillar in this community, and we look forward to seeing how expanded transportation can make an even greater difference in the lives of Club youth and families.”
“We are so grateful to Bridgestone and are honored to be selected as a recipient for a new passenger van to help our Club youth and families overcome transportation barriers,” said Jeff Breslin, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore. “These vans will not only give kids and teens increased access to outside opportunities that better their future, but will also provide safe and reliable transportation to after-school programming to help them reach their full potential.”
Last year, Bridgestone raised $3.6 million for Boys & Girls Clubs of America to help Club kids and teens gain access to high-impact, out-of-school support amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including bridging technology and transportation gaps. Since 2015, Bridgestone has contributed a total of $15.3 million to Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Driving Great Futures is part of the Bridgestone Our Way to Serve corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitment to improve the way people move, live, work and play.
