Bridgestone Costa Rica takes a deep commitment to the communities that surround it and therefore seeks to influence them positively through various strategies. Its social initiatives are focused on the three objectives of the Priority Area of People: contributing to a safer society, inclusive and accessible education, as well as promoting healthier communities.

One of the working methods that Bridgestone Costa Rica executes to concretize its social initiatives is volunteering, which allows the integration and direct participation of collaborators in solving problems to transcend their environment.

The corporate volunteer program at Bridgestone Latin America North is classified in four major areas:

• Assistance volunteering (campaigns)

Channel philanthropic aid to communities, generating resources and fundraising. At this level are the donations that provide support in emergency situations.

• Volunteering at events

This refers to groups of volunteers who produce a positive impact by implementing or maintaining infrastructure and securing additional donations.

• Skill-based volunteering

This includes projects executed by certain companies or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that the company works with to engage volunteers in the transfer of skills and abilities to the people benefitted.

• Entrepreneur volunteering

This promotes leadership and entrepreneurship skills among employees as it seeks to engage them in the medium term, through the implementation of projects that the volunteers identify and execute as part of the volunteer program. It also promotes alignment with higher objectives through proposals that are then put into practice.

Although the number of participants and volunteer hours decreased this year compared to 2016, the number of people who benefitted from the program increased by approximately 300%, thanks to the reinforced accounting and validation of beneficiary processes with the different organizations that participated or partnered with Bridgestone. Regardless of their classification, Bridgestone Costa Rica’s volunteer programs are aligned with the company’s three Priority Areas: Mobility, People, and Environment.

Contributing to a Safer Society

Bridgestone Costa Rica strives every year to contribute to a safer society through different campaigns and projects. In 2017, the initiatives were focused on safe mobility.

Think Before You Drive

This is one of the main social campaigns promoted by Bridgestone. It consists of checking tire pressure and tire wear free of charge. In addition, all population groups, including children and young people, are taught road safety rights and obligations through workshops, different activities, and the distribution of information. The program is implemented at service centers, schools, and universities.

Some of the program modalities include Think Before You Drive for university students; Think Before You Drive for kids, and Think Before You Drive for vacations (during Easter, mid-year, and year-end vacation periods). These three campaigns had a positive impact on the 9,690 people who benefitted from the programs.

Seguro Llegas (Get There Safely)

Thousands of families and transport companies travel the roads and highways every day. Heavy transport generates high risks, both for the drivers and those around them. Therefore, in 2017 and for the second year in a row, Bridgestone Costa Rica implemented the Seguro Llegas (Get There Safely) road safety campaign—, which is unique in the industry— aimed at transportation companies. The purpose of the campaign is to provide accident prevention information and safety advices in three key areas:

1. Preventing driver fatigue

2. Promoting vehicle maintenance

3. Promoting tire checks