Firestone Liberia Extends Charity Assistance Scheme

Bridgestone’s subsidiary in the African nation of Liberia, Firestone Natural Rubber Company, LLC, has announced that its cargo donation program will be extended throughout 2008. The program, which began in 2006 with the aim of helping to rebuild the civil war ravaged West African country, provides space for relief goods and other donated cargo from aid organisations on ships operated by Firestone Liberia. To date more than 30 aid organisations have signed up to ship donated goods – including medicine, vitamins, food, generators and building materials.

“We are very appreciative that Firestone is helping us ship containers to Liberia,” said Dr. Del Chinchen, President of African Bible College University of Liberia, who is shipping construction supplies and tools to help restore its 22-building campus. “Besides the physical destruction, civil conflict also destroys the social and moral fabric of a country. Firestone is enabling ABC University to contribute toward the social transformation of Liberia.” ABC University hopes to welcome its first class of students in September 2008.

Cargo space is available to qualified charitable organisations, and Firestone will cover the cost of ocean freight shipping. Under the program, each Firestone ship headed to Liberia will reserve several containers worth of space for relief goods and other donated cargo. Firestone accepts containers of non-perishable foods, medical supplies, new and used clothing, schoolbooks and other supplies and deliver them to Monrovia for the people of Liberia as directed by the donor charity.

“We have been encouraged by the overwhelming interest charitable organisations have expressed in helping the people of Liberia, and we want to give them the chance to do so,” said Dan Adomitis, President of Firestone Natural Rubber Company. “We are committed to working with the government and aid organisations to help rebuild this country’s infrastructure and social services which were destroyed during many years of internal strife.”