Goodyear Hosts Third Annual Week of Volunteering

Goodyear-IPromise-2 — LeBron James’s I Promise School was among 17 Akron-area locations where Goodyear volunteers spent their time the week of May 30 through June 5. Photos by David Sickels, Tire Review Associate Editor.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. hosted its third annual Global Week of Volunteering in 30 locations around the world the week of May 30 through June 5.

During the week, Goodyear teams performed hands-on volunteer activities which included revitalizing a part of the Kokra River Canyon with the Center for Sustainable Development in Kranj, Slovenia; hosting a bicycle safety event at a primary school in Debica, Poland; teaching high school students decision-making skills and personal finance management with the Boys & Girls Club in Carson, California; and working with 17 local organizations in the Akron, Ohio area, including designing and building a STEM-themed escape room for Akron students and preparing LeBron James’s I Promise School for next year’s students.

About 10 Goodyear employees from the company’s commercial tire division spent four hours cleaning, weeding, moving furniture and painting at the I Promise School the morning of June 4.

Goodyear-IPromise-1 — Goodyear employees Gary Colella and Bridgette Romberger take a tally of classroom items at LeBron James’s I Promise School.

“Our goal is to build a better future in our community. That’s really what drives us,” said Joni Fitch, Goodyear’s engagement manager, who was onsite with the volunteers. “It continues to be a catalyst for us to engage more of our associates into the community. Our associates are capable of doing so much in this community, as long as they just open that door to volunteering.”

Fitch said the Global Week of Volunteering started in 2016 as a way for Goodyear to connect with its nonprofit community partners.

“Now, three years later, there are a lot of times where our community partners rely on us to come out year after year,” Fitch said. “We install smoke alarms with the Red Cross, we do the landscaping [for the I Promise School] every year which cuts their costs. We volunteer with Junior Achievement.”

Goodyear-IPromise-3 — Goodyear employees Tom Lippello and Jessica Julian help landscape the grounds of LeBron James’s I Promise School in Akron.

Fitch said Goodyear also offers professional development workshops for more than 400 Akron-area non-profit workers during the week.

Julia Romito, Goodyear communications specialist, said the company’s goal this year is to surpass more than 15,000 volunteer hours during the week, a number Goodyear hit last year.

Discount Tire & Service Centers has a new sponsorship deal with the Los Angeles Angels for the 2024 season. Discount Tire said this partnership will not only benefit its customers with season-long promotions and giveaways but will also support local non-profits.

"We're thrilled to launch this strategic partnership with the Los Angeles Angels," said Sergio Andonian, president, Discount Tire & Service Centers. "As neighbors, from Anaheim, we are dedicated to serving our local communities and providing quality tire & automotive service at the most competitive prices. Together, we look forward to making a positive and lasting impact in the communities. Add baseball to the mix, and with this winning combination, the possibilities are endless."