Bridgestone Announces Two Grand Prize Winners in Nationwide Fuel the Drive Contest
Winning schools in Michigan, Colorado and Virginia to receive grants to support athletic and wellness initiatives
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) today announced two $25,000 (USD) grand prize winners in the 2015 Fuel the Drive Contest: Minges Brook Elementary School in Battle Creek, Michigan, and World Compass Academy in Castle Rock, Colorado. Based on the quality of contest submissions and the narrow margin of votes between the top two entries, Bridgestone was inspired to award two grand prizes. A $5,000 (USD) runner-up prize will be awarded to the third highest recipient of votes, Crestwood Intermediate School in Chesapeake, Virginia. Fuel the Drive is part of the company's partnership with the National Football League (NFL) initiative, NFL PLAY.
"Like everyone who voted in our Fuel the Drive Contest, we were inspired by these wonderful and deserving projects, and we are excited to be able to give away two grand prizes," said Amber Holm, vice president of brand marketing, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations. "Programs like Fuel the Drive are an important part of our vision at Bridgestone to be an innovative tire company and an outstanding corporate citizen. We want to do our part to make the communities where we do business great places for local youth to live and play."
Bridgestone created the Fuel the Drive contest as a way to help fund a new or existing, K-12 school-based athletic program or wellness initiative. In addition to their prize money, the two grand prize winners and runner-up also will receive an NFL PLAY 60 in a Box kit, which includes a range of equipment to increase physical activity options for students.
The three winners all will be making playground and recreation area improvements. Minges Brook Elementary School plans to use the grand prize funds to purchase new playground equipment for students to enjoy during recess sessions each day. The equipment also will provide a place for neighborhood children to play after school or during the summer.
Focusing on the school's sports teams, World Compass Academy will use the prize money to purchase soccer nets, a backstop for baseball, bleachers and paint lines for soccer and football fields. Runner-up Crestwood Intermediate School will be purchasing additional playground equipment for students with the Fuel the Drive prize money.
Bridgestone, the world's largest tire and rubber manufacturer, is committed to being an outstanding corporate citizen. The Fuel the Drive contest is one way Bridgestone is making its communities better places to work, live and play.
To enter the contest, nearly 100 contestants submitted a 250-word essay describing why their school's program has untapped potential and explaining how contest prize money would be used. After a panel of judges selected the top 10 finalists, the public was invited to vote for their top choice. During the voting period of November 12, 2015 and December 14, 2015, the contest received hundreds of thousands of votes.
For more information, visit www.FueltheDrive.com.
About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:
Nashville, Tennessee-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world's largest tire and rubber company. BSAM and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. The companies are also engaged in retreading operations throughout the Western Hemisphere and produce air springs, roofing materials, and industrial fibers and textiles. The BSAM family of companies also operates the world's largest chain of automotive tire and service centers. Guided by its One Team, One Planet message, the company is dedicated to achieving a positive environmental impact in all of the communities it calls home.
SOURCE Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
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