MANCHESTER, N.H.—Bridgestone Retail Operations (BSRO) recently donated $25,000 to Boys & Girls Club of Manchester to provide access to critical resources and enrichment opportunities to local kids who are at-risk of or experiencing homelessness.
The donation will allow Boys & Girls Club of Manchester to continue partnering with the Manchester School District and its homeless liaison to identify and enroll displaced children at no cost to their families.
Enrolled Club kids will be provided academic support, healthy meals and snacks, transportation, a safe place to go before and after school, and other personal essentials, BSRO said.
"The Boys & Girls Club of Manchester is committed to addressing inequities and opportunity gaps plaguing our families," Diane Fitzpatrick, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Manchester, said in a statement. "Thanks to Bridgestone, we will be able to expand our services to support families in need. We are grateful for their continued support for our kids and their families."
The gift is part of the Bridgestone Driving Great Futures campaign, where customers and teammates can donate to support Boys & Girls Clubs at any of the 2,200 BSRO locations nationwide.
"With the growing number of Manchester residents and children experiencing homelessness, we knew we had to step up to serve our community," Bridgestone Area Manager Bryan O'Kelley said in a news release.
"Boys & Girls Clubs of America is doing important work to address issues like food insecurity and homelessness, and we are proud to make this donation, so they can support more local families in need."
Kelley oversees 10 area Firestone Complete Auto Care stores, including the Manchester location.
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 $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.
BSRO goes to market under four brand names: Firestone Complete Auto Care, Tires Plus, Hibdon Tires Plus and Wheel Works.