Bridgestone Retail Operations surprised Hollister area youth and families Wednesday when they announced a $100,000 donation to Boys & Girls Club of Haliwa-Saponi Tribe to fund technology upgrades and vehicle fleet maintenance. 

Bridgestone Retail Operations is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas.

The donation is part of the Bridgestone Driving Great Futures initiative, which has raised more than $20 million to help kids and teens connect with Boys & Girls Club resources across the country since 2015.

The announcement took place during a celebration event at the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe Clubhouse, attended by club and Bridgestone leadership, local tribal and civic leaders, and community members. 

The new grant will ensure area Club kids have improved access to technology resources, better on-site security, and reliable transportation to and from enrichment activities, Bridgestone said.

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“Boys & Girls Club of Haliwa-Saponi Tribe was founded in June 2022 to serve youth in a rural area of North Carolina comprised of Native American tribal communities that has one of the most unreliable and unaffordable internet and technology infrastructures in the state,” the company said.

Marko  Ibrahim, president of Bridgestone Retail Operations, said, “Boys & Girls Clubs across the country provide vital resources for youth — from reliable internet and computer access to safe transportation that help them access out-of-school programming.” 

He said, “We’re honored to support Boys & Girls Club of Haliwa-Saponi Tribe as they continue their important work to provide young people with the skills they need to drive great futures.”

In 2015, Bridgestone established its national partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America with the mission of making out-of-school programming more accessible to club youth and their families. 

Through donations collected at the company’s more than 2,200 retail stores, Bridgestone has contributed funds to address transportation-related needs, including maintenance and repairs of existing club vehicles and the purchase of new vans, as well as bridge technology divides through the purchase of new computers and hotspots that support in-person club programming, virtual classroom learning and other technology infrastructure needs.