Bridgestone Americas Inc. (Bridgestone) recently donated 10,000 face coverings to Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee. The face coverings, which were donated as part of the “TN Strong Mask Movement” initiated by Governor Bill Lee’s Economic Recovery Group in June, are child-sized to accommodate the more than 57,000 youth who participate in Club services across the state each year. The masks will be distributed state-wide as part of the Club’s back-to-school readiness program to ensure Club kids have a well-fitting mask while engaging in daily activities.
“It’s great to see Bridgestone, one of Tennessee’s leading manufacturers and one of the largest employers, stepping up to partner in the TN Strong Mask Movement,” said Governor Bill Lee. “Since they are so influential for many Tennesseans’ lives and livelihoods, they are also instrumental in making sure our communities are healthy.”
Christine Karbowiak, vice chair, chief administrative officer, chief risk officer and executive vice president for Bridgestone Americas agreed, noting the company saw the donation as an opportunity to give back to youth throughout Tennessee.
“As a corporate citizen of Tennessee with operations in multiple local communities across the state, we wanted to participate in Governor Lee’s TN Strong Mask Movement to provide Tennesseans with face coverings to help mitigate the spread of Coronavirus,” Karbowiak said. “Providing child-sized face coverings to area Boys & Girls Club kids was a simple way we could help to our longtime partner while also supporting our community at large.”
According to LaQuinta McGhee, chief operating officer, Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee, the donation couldn’t have come at a better time as the need to wear face coverings to protect against Coronavirus continues across the state.
“We are thankful to Bridgestone for their donation of masks that will help provide an essential piece of personal protective equipment vital for our Club youth across the state of Tennessee,” McGhee said. “Whether the kids are at our Club, school, or with their parents at the grocery store, it’s important they wear a mask as we all continue to do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19.”
Bridgestone began its nationwide partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 2015 and has donated more than $10.5 million to the organization through 2019. In April, Bridgestone announced all Q1 customer donations would go directly to the Boys & Girls Clubs COVID-19 Relief Fund, a total of $840,000. The funds are helping support immediate Club needs during the ongoing pandemic.
Since the launch of the Economic Recovery Group’s “TN Strong Mask Movement” in June, more than 70 flagship brands including businesses, universities, sports teams and communities across the state have joined the movement to create and distribute nearly 700,000 masks to Tennessee residents. The Governor’s office stated the project is valued at more than $7 million and provides a way for residents to do their part to stay safe during the current COVID-19 health crisis.
