ATD Sets Donations for Inclusive Playgrounds, Agencies

American Tire Distributors (ATD) made $170,000 in charitable gifts, including $100,000 for two inclusive Tread Town playgrounds, to commemorate its 75th anniversary and expand its ongoing partnership with Boundless Playgrounds.

The gifts, which bring the amount ATD and its business partners have raised for nonprofit organizations to more than $1 million, were announced at ATD’s 21st Annual Charity Classic golf tournament.

This year, ATD’s total charitable giving also includes $70,000 in equal gifts to the Hope House Foundation and The Ada Jenkins Center, human services agencies serving Huntersville, N.C., where ATD is based, and the broader Charlotte region.

“We’re proud of ATD’s 75 years of success in the tire industry, and we believe it’s absolutely essential to support groups that help address important needs in all of the communities we serve,” said Bill Berry, ATD president and CEO. “We want to thank all of our vendors, whose generous contributions along with ATD’s direct gifts have made it possible to support this year’s recipients so they can assist others in becoming physically, socially and financially independent.”

Each Boundless Playground Tread Town’s foundation is constructed from recycled rubber, creating an accessible surface that allows children and caregivers with and without disabilities to navigate the playground freely and safely. The playground features ramped wheelchair access to the highest platforms, a tire swing, state-of-the art solid harness swings for children who need additional back support, and a multitude of other fitness and educational-based activities.

The two Tread Town playgrounds funded by this year’s donation will be located in key service markets in the Southeast and West, with specific sites to be announced at a later date. ATD’s inaugural Tread Town playground, announced at last year’s Charity Classic, opened in Huntersville earlier this year.

GRI recently conducted programs in Sri Lanka to empower women and motivate children under its Green x Circle initiative. The company said these endeavors aimed to address the needs of the community, focusing on both women empowerment and youth motivation.

GRI recently organized a training program titled "Management of household finance under current economic conditions" at the Ingiriya Rubber Collecting Center in Sri Lanka, South Asia led by Shashika Nimali, an NLP practitioner and life coach. The company said this initiative provided women in the industry with essential skills and knowledge to effectively manage household finances. GRI's tailored training sessions equipped participants with tools for informed decision-making, ultimately fostering greater financial security and independence, the company said.