AKRON, Ohio — Bridgestone Retail Operations has donated $100,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio to help bridge the digital divide for local Club kids.
The digital divide in Northeast Ohio has been a major issue for Cleveland schools during the pandemic.
In Cuyahoga County, Microsoft estimates about 444,000 people do not have broadband-speed internet access. And in Ohio, that number is estimated to be about 4.9 million.
"With this donation, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio will be able to provide equipment, enhanced internet access, hotspots and other resources to help Club Kids gain access to digital tools they may otherwise go without. In addition to 11 area BSRO stores, Northeast Ohio is home to the Bridgestone Americas Technical Center, where more than 700 teammates are working to advance science and innovation in smart tires, non-pneumatic (airless) tires, connected mobility, sustainable materials, and more."
In 2021, Boys & Girls Clubs of America received $3.6 million dollars in donations from Bridgestone.
“We know that when young people have basic access to technology in this increasingly digital world, they have a greater chance of success in school and beyond,” said Robert Johnson, vice president of stores for BSRO. “Our communities across Northeast Ohio, and Akron in particular, are very special to Bridgestone, and we are grateful for the contributions of our retail customers and teammates that will allow the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio to continue to deliver critical resources to area kids.”
Bridgestone has been a title sponsor of PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions events at Firestone since 2006.
The professional golf tournaments in Akron have contributed more than $30 million dollars to the area and local community for nearly 40 years.