TOKYO—Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. said it will use the more than $49,000 in anonymous donations it received to fund several charitable projects, including earthquake/tsunami relief efforts in Japan.
In addition to supporting Yokohama Rubber's activities in support of reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami disaster in 2011, the company said it plans to use the funds to defray costs related to the various company-approved volunteer activities of its employees.
The projects include:
• A local fisheries cooperative where company employees volunteered to support disaster recovery efforts on Oshima Island in Kessennuma, Miyagi Prefecture. A total of 60 Yokohama Rubber employees volunteered in 10 sessions between October 2011 and February 2012. In January Yokohama donated studless tires to enable the fisheries cooperative to transport oysters during the winter season.
• Mie Plant employees' disaster recovery activities in Onagawa-cho, Miyagi Prefecture. Employees of Yokohama's Mie Plant rallied in support of the severely affected town of Onagawa and delivered supplies to the town and helped in other disaster recovery support activities, according to the tire maker. The employees continue to provide support for Onagawa-cho through monetary donations and continued participation in on-site restoration work, the company said.
• Heisei Forest tree planting in Otsuchi-cho, Iwate Prefecture, one of many communities that suffered extensive damage from the earthquake/tsunami. As part of its disaster restoration plan, the town is creating a protective green belt, called the Chinkon no Mori, to mitigate damage from future tsunamis. In support of this project, Yokohama held a tree-planting event in the town in 2011. In April, Yokohama held its third tree planting event in Otsuchi-cho.
• Other volunteer activities of Yokohama employees. In addition to the above activities, Yokohama said its employees participate in a wide variety of volunteer activities, including nursing care support for the aged and disabled, assistance for child welfare organizations and foreign residents of Japan, beautification of the environment and preservation of nature, and other disaster recovery support programs.