ALLENTOWN, Pa. — To 12-year-old Jorge Lantigua, the 2024 Honda Odyssey EX-L passenger van that Bridgestone Tire Co. donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Allentown represents more than just a new vehicle replacing an old one.
“It means people care about us kids,” Jorge said. “It’s a blessing.”
The Boys & Girls Club rolled out the welcome mat for the police-escorted arrival of the vehicle on a cold, windy Monday afternoon at its Turner Street location.
About 50 club children cheered as the white van with the large red bow across the hood rolled onto the club grounds.
“It means people care about us kids. It's a blessing.”Jorge Latigua, 12, Boys & Girls Club of Allentown
The donation is a part of Bridgestone’s Driving Great Futures initiative, which has raised more than $20 million since 2015 to connect children and teens with Boys & Girls Clubs of America programs and resources across the United States.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Allentown is among 12 locations nationwide to get a $60,000 grant this year from Bridgestone to buy a new van and affix it with club logos and signage.
Bridgestone got more than 200 applications and video presentations this year.
“We learned in October we were getting the grant,” said Deb Fries-Jackson, the Allentown club's outgoing chief executive officer. “This new van replaces our old one, which was a 2002 with more than 200,000 miles on it.
“This will allow us to transport the kids to and from the club sites, to field trips, college tours and to the Sixth Street Pool.”
'Safer and more reliable'
Mark Kuster, Boys & Girls Club of Allentown board member and past chairman, said among the bigger challenges is transporting the children from one place to another.
“Now we have a new van that’s safer and more reliable,” Kuster said. “Bridgestone has recognized that dynamic since they started this grant program in 2015.”
Through donations collected at the company’s more than 2,200 retail stores, Bridgestone has contributed funds to address transportation-related needs, including maintenance and repairs of existing club vehicles and the purchase of new vans.
“The Allentown club really needed a new one since their old one was more than 20 years old. We’re happy we could help.”Michael Fuller, Lehigh Valley area manager for Bridgestone
The donations also helped bridge technology divides through the purchase of new computers and hotspots that support in-person club programming, virtual classroom learning and other technology infrastructure needs.
“We at Bridgestone understand how tough it can be for Boys & Girls Clubs to have dependable vehicles to get the kids to and from events,” said Michael Fuller, Lehigh Valley area manager for Bridgestone.
“And the Allentown club really needed a new one since their old one was more than 20 years old. We’re happy we could help.”
