Bridgestone Firestone Teams Up With Toys For Tots

Bridgestone Firestone dealers and Firestone Complete Auto Care stores to serve as drop points for 2005 Toys for Tots program

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Oct. 10, 2005) – The mission is to put smiles on the faces of as many children as possible. To accomplish the task, Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) will once again team up with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Foundation in this campaign to spread good cheer and make the holidays happy for thousands of needy children. BFNT and the Marine Corps Reserve will gather toys, books and other gifts for children during the holiday season. This is the second year of a three-year, nationwide sponsorship by BFNT in support of the good works performed by the Toys for Tots program.

“We saw from the success of our efforts last year that Toys for Tots really makes a difference in the lives of so many children,” said John Gamauf, president, Consumer Replacement Tire, BFNT. “We’ve enjoyed working with U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. It’s very gratifying to be able to team-up with such a great organization for such a worthy cause,” Gamauf concluded.

Last year the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Campaign distributed 19 million new toys, bringing the joy of the holidays and delivering a message of hope to 7.5 million needy children throughout the nation. This made the 2004 Toys for Tots Campaign the most successful in the 57-year history of the program. Through the Toys for Tots program, which was named the Best Children’s Charity by Reader’s Digest and has been included on the Gold-Star List of Charities by Forbes magazine, local communities can come together for a common cause. Communities can contribute three months out of the year, during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign, to make a difference.

“Last year’s Toy for Tots Campaign was our most successful ever thanks to great corporate partners like Bridgestone Firestone. We know that together we can build on our success and brighten the holidays for even more deserving children,” said Major William J. Grein, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret). Grein is also vice president for the Marketing and Development Division.

To reinforce its commitment to the program, designated Bridgestone Firestone retail outlets (independent and company-owned stores) will act as drop-off points for their communities for the next two years. Those who want to contribute can take unwrapped toys and gifts to their nearest participating Bridgestone Firestone dealer, Firestone Complete Auto Care, TiresPlus or ExpertTire location and place them in a collection box in the customer lounge. Call 1-877-TIRE-USA or bridgestonetire.com for your nearest location. Local toy collection campaigns begin in October and last until Dec. 16.

“This is a great team effort between our Family Channel dealers and the Marine Corps Reserve to give back to the communities we call home and make the holidays memorable for so many children,” said Mark A. Emkes, chairman and CEO of BFNT and its parent company, Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc. “We’re grateful for the outpouring of generosity we witnessed across the country during last year’s Toys for Tots Campaign. It’s that spirit of giving that makes Toys for Tots such a wonderful program,” Emkes said.