TAMPA, FL – October 22, 2012 – Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC (BSRO) presented the Pediatric Cancer Foundation (PCF) with a remarkable donation of $500,000 on Friday, October 19, 2012, at The Fishermen’s Ball presented by Firestone Complete Auto Care, Tires Plus, ExpertTire, Wheel Works, and Credit First, N.A. The event was part of a weekend full of activities at The Yerrid Foundation Grand Slam Celebrity Fishing Tournament presented by Bonefish Grill.
For three years, BSRO employees and its 2,200 retail locations nationwide, including Firestone Complete Auto Care, ExpertTire, Tires Plus, and Wheel Works, have supported the efforts of PCF through a program that offers customers the opportunity to round up their transactions to the nearest dollar for PCF. The program was implemented in 2010, after BSRO President Matt Hoskins brought the charity to the attention of the organization.
“Our internal message of ‘promise to care’ really transitions to the customers and communities we serve each day. We see our promise to the Pediatric Cancer Foundation as serving as a supporter as well as an advocate,” said Hoskins. “Our employees and our customers have been touched by the Pediatric Cancer Foundation and embraced it beyond our wildest dreams. Who can argue with wanting to eradicate childhood cancer?”
The Pediatric Cancer Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding research to eliminate childhood cancer. Over the past 21 years, the PCF has donated over $6 million to researchers. Eighty-five percent of expenses support PCF’s mission to fund research and eradicate childhood cancer.
“The Pediatric Cancer Foundation is honored to have the support of Bridgestone Retail Operations and its customers. Having 2,200 locations nationwide involved in this campaign brings invaluable awareness to our cause and the monetary donation will fund Phase I clinical trials and give much needed hope to our children and families,” said Nancy Crane, Executive Director, PCF.
ATTACHED PICTURE: Left to Right: Jeremy Persinger, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Tires Plus; Matt Hoskins, President, Bridgestone Retail Operations; Nancy Crane, Executive Director, Pediatric Cancer Foundation; Melissa Helms, Co-Founder, Pediatric Cancer Foundation; and Steve Muscato, Brand Marketing Manager, Bridgestone Retail Operations.
About Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC:
Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC (BSRO) is headquartered in Bloomingdale, Ill., and operates the largest network of company-owned automotive service providers in the world — nearly 2,200 tire and vehicle service centers across the United States — including Firestone Complete Auto Care, Tires Plus™, ExpertTire™, and Wheel Works store locations. Firestone Complete Fleet Care™ is also part of BSRO. BSRO is a member of the Bridgestone Americas family of companies.
About Pediatric Cancer Foundation:
With its national headquarters in Tampa, the Pediatric Cancer Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding research to eliminate childhood cancer through the Sunshine Project, the Foundation’s collaborative research initiative. By employing doctors and researchers from the country’s top institutions, the Sunshine Project is fast-tracking the development of new drugs and therapies that will ultimately lead to the cure of childhood cancers. For more information, go to www.fastercure.org.