NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Bridgestone Retail Operations (Bridgestone), a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas, today celebrated the culmination of a two-week fundraising competition for Boys & Girls Clubs of America in partnership with NFL players from Tight End University (TEU). The campaign concluded at the TEU Summit in Nashville, where area Club youth had the opportunity to engage with players and experience activities that emphasized the importance of healthy life skills, such as teamwork, strength and the importance of good character.
At the event, Bridgestone announced it is making a $450,000 donation to local Boys & Girls Clubs to support critical needs, including transportation and technology resources. TEU also announced their players and fans raised an additional $131,000 for Clubs in NFL markets across the country. Dawson Knox, Tight End playing for the Buffalo Bills, was the top TEU fundraiser during the campaign and received an additional $100,000 donation from Bridgestone and TEU for his hometown Boys & Girls Club. All in, Bridgestone and TEU donated a combined $681,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide.
“Thanks to the dedication of TEU, their players and their fans, Club youth across the country will have better access to the critical resources and out-of-school programming provided by Boys & Girls Clubs each day,” said Marko Ibrahim, President, Bridgestone Retail Operations. “We are so proud of the impact our Boys & Girls Clubs Driving Great Futures partnership has made over the past seven years, and we are grateful to TEU for joining forces with us to help even more youth nationwide.”
The TEU partnership is the latest campaign in support of the Bridgestone Driving Great Futures initiative, which has raised more than $20 million to support Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide since the program’s inception in 2015. This is the second consecutive year Bridgestone and TEU have partnered to support Boys & Girls Clubs of America. TEU provides a venue for the country’s top Tight Ends to build camaraderie, share ideas and make an impact in their communities.
“When Greg, Travis and I created TEU, it was important to us that in addition to putting on an elite event for our Tight End community, we helped make a positive impact off the field,” said George Kittle, NFL Tight End and Co-founder, TEU. “All proceeds from TEU will go to helping people around the country. On behalf of the 80+ NFL Tight Ends in Nashville this year, we’re excited to work with Bridgestone to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Seeing the fans join in to donate and help raise money for BGCA was truly humbling.”
“As Boys & Girls Clubs continue to offer safe spaces, positive mentors and life-enhancing experiences for young people, we are grateful for Bridgestone’s continued support to address critical mobility and technology needs,” said Jim Clark, President & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “Not only has this partnership made Clubs more accessible to youth, but these efforts have strengthened our organization’s mission to help kids and teens realize their full potential.”
The Bridgestone Driving Great Futures partnership aligns with the Bridgestone E8 Commitment that consists of eight Bridgestone-like values starting with the letter “E” to realize a sustainable society. The Driving Great Futures initiative is an example of the company’s commitment to “Empowerment,” which is defined as contributing to a society that ensures accessibility and dignity for all and “Emotion”, defined as inspiring excitement and spreading joy to the world of mobility.
For more Bridgestone company news visit BridgestoneAmericas.com.
About Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC:
Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC (BSRO) is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. and operates the largest network of company-owned automotive service providers in the world — more than 2,200 tire and vehicle service centers across the United States — including Firestone Complete Auto Care, Tires Plus, Hibdon Tires Plus and Wheel Works store locations. Credit First National Association and Firestone Complete Fleet Care operations are also part of BSRO. BSRO is a member of the Bridgestone Americas family of companies.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of America:
For 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has provided a safe place for kids and teens to learn and grow. Clubs offer caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Boys & Girls Clubs programming promotes academic success, good character and leadership, and healthy lifestyles. More than 4,900 Clubs serve over 4.3 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of America on Facebook and Twitter.
About TEU:
Tight End University (TEU) was founded in 2021 by George Kittle, Travis Kelce and Greg Olsen to bring the tight end community together to learn from one another. The three-day event consists of film work, on-field drills, and training and recovery. In 2022, a select group of legendary NFL tight ends will join TEU as coaches to provide advice to the current generation of tight ends.