CAIRO — On Monday afternoon the Jackie Robinson Boys & Girls Club of Cairo parking lot was full of smiling faces as the club received the donation of a brand new van by Bridgestone. The donation is part of Bridgestone’s Driving Great Futures Partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of America that has been in place since 2015. The initiative focuses on assisting the Boys & Girls Club of America in securing “reliable and safe transportation,” which has been identified as a very real issue for the Boys & Girls Club of America.
Club director Stephen Francis said that the donation of this van will help the Jackie Robinson Boys & Girls Club serve the Cairo community.
“We will be able to participate in more community service projects,” Francis said. “For instance, go to the nursing home, do some college tours, even if a storm comes through we are able to deliver water and food. Just to be part of the community and give back.”
Over 200 Boys & Girls Clubs across the country submitted applications for the grant and just twelve were chosen. As one of those twelve, the Jackie Robinson Boys & Girls Club received a brand new van fitted with Bridgestone tires.
The Jackie Robinson Boys & Girls Club held a ceremony where club CEO Lee Wagner, Director Stephen Francis and Area Manager for Bridgestone Derek Dust spoke at the event as the children of the Jackie Robinson Boys & Girls Club eagerly awaited their moment to play in the bounce house.
When asked what it means to be chosen out of 200 applicants, Francis said, “We are the only Jackie Robinson Boys & Girls Club in the world. So, with that is a great honor, but it also carries a great responsibility and I think being picked is just another opportunity to stand tall and show the Boys & Girls Clubs of America how proud we are to carry that name.”