Bridgestone donation saves free book program
Bridgestone/Firestone has stepped up to help save the Books From Birth program for Warren County children.
The local program was in danger of running out of funding halfway through the 2006-2007 fiscal period. When informed of the situation, the local plant donated $6,000 to Warren County after donating $20,000 at the state level for the same program.
County Executive John Pelham was the first to point out what a wonderful contribution it was.
?I can?t say enough about what they have done and continue to do for Warren County,? said Pelham. ?Their contribution saved the program.?
According to Pelham, the program was in danger of seeing its last year in Warren County. The county needed $15,000 to fund the program, and received half, $7,500, from the state. With only the state?s $7,500 the county had no idea where they were going to get the other half.
The reason for Bridgestone?s contribution is simple, according to plant manager Ron Brooks.
?Bridgestone sees this as a very important program,? Brooks said. ?Supplying books to children helps the future of Warren County. Children are our future. We didn?t want them to lose this program.?
The funds came from the Bridgestone/Firestone Trust Fund. Promoting education is one of the main missions of the trust fund. For Bridgestone community relations coordinator Carol Simcox, donating money to the community is just a small part of the corporation?s goals.
?The bottom line for Bridgestone is to be a corporate citizen,? said Simcox. ?We donate not just money but our time and our efforts into the community. I keep an eye on what is happening within the community and figure out a way for us to help. That is our goal. Providing books from birth, how much better can you get? It?s a wonderful program and we are happy to help.?
With this contribution, the program only needs $1,500 to make it through the rest of this fiscal year. For Pelham, education is the answer for Warren County and he is confident the community will find the remaining funds to continue with the program.
The program, which formerly operated under the Imagination Library name, is open to all children under the age of 5, regardless of income. One free book is mailed to the child each month until he or she turns 5. The books are geared to the specific age of the child receiving it.
The Southern Standard has administered the local program since its inception here. Registration forms can be filled out in about a minute and can be picked up at the newspaper office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Parents must register within the county in which they reside.