Local organization one of 10 in the nation to earn a grant from Bridgestone’s ‘Driving Great Futures’ initiative

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

“It sparkles.”

“This is seriously nice.”

Those are just a couple of descriptions overheard as teens took a look at the new ride.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington Clubs received one of 10 grants nationwide from Bridgestone Retail Operations to purchase a new Kia passenger van. That sparkling new vehicle will provide transportation for club members to and from their clubhouses and other enrichment activities, including college visitations for older teens.

“It’s for you to explore. It’s for you to have opportunities to go somewhere,” Francisco Bueno, the executive director of the clubs, told teenagers in attendance at a ceremony Wednesday night. “We always say in the Boys and Girls Club world, quality equipment for quality kids.”

The van will help the clubs address one of the biggest hurdles families face — transportation — as the clubs try to give more children and teenagers access to high-impact, out-of-school programming. 

Chris Mayton, area manager for Bridgestone Retail Operations, also spoke at the ceremony to figuratively hand over the keys to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington.

He noted that thanks to Bridgestone customers all over the nation, including here in Southwest Washington, Bridgestone has donated more than $25 million since 2015 as part of the company’s “Driving Great Futures” Initiative. Bridgestone learned that many Boys and Girls Clubs across America have transportation issues. 

This year, Bridgestone granted 10 vans across the country, and Southwest Washington received one. There are more than 1,000 clubs in America and hundreds applied for the Driving Great Futures grants this year, according to club officials.

“It was just recently wrapped with the new design. We actually haven’t used it yet. This is the first time the kids are going to be able to see it,” said Caroline Reed, grants manager for the clubs of Southwest Washington. “We went for something a little bit more ‘sleek.’”