Community Initiatives

Goodyear recognizes that it has a responsibility to support and give back to the communities in which it operates. Goodyear charitable giving and community enterprise programs are based on the principle that corporate social responsibility is the right thing to do. Throughout the world, Goodyear is one of the leading employers, and communities look to the company for support.

Asia-Pacific

Emergency Earthquake Relief

• In May 2006, Indonesia suffered an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9. More than 4,000 died and over 100,000 were displaced. Goodyear Indonesia responded with emergency relief, including food, clothing and money.

Typhoon Relief

• In 2006, the western portion of China’s Guangdong Province suffered losses from floods and heavy rains due to Typhoons Bilis and Prapiroon. Goodyear joined with one of China’s influential news organizations to auction photographs of the Goodyear Blimp’s first flight to Guangdong Province. Proceeds from the auction, along with other donations from Goodyear, generated more than $38,000.

European Union

Royal National Lifeboat Association

• Since 2004, Goodyear associates in the United Kingdom have been participating in this program and raising funds through the Goodyear National Wet Safety Week.

Motorsport-Themed Fashion Course

• Funded by Goodyear and Dunlop®, students at the London School of Fashion participated in this course, which premiered during the 2006 Autosport International Exhibition.

Latin America

Plante Esta Idea (Cultivate This Idea To Make It Grow)

• More than 55,000 people have participated in this program, which encompasses volunteer work by associates and focuses on environmental protection, since 2003. For example, Goodyear Brazil worked with local governments to establish 170 used tire collection centers.

Primary School Initiatives

• Goodyear Venezuela has achieved particularly good results in vaccination and drug prevention campaigns for schools.
• Goodyear Venezuela also plans to develop volunteer work for all Goodyear associates, including projects that benefit the environment, teach drug prevention and create opportunities for a better quality of life in health and education.

Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa

World AIDS Day

• Goodyear South Africa began its program of HIV/AIDS education and awareness in 1989. Recently the company conducted a four-week series of talks and programs designed to increase knowledge, build awareness, and promote voluntary counseling and HIV testing. Goodyear is one of the first companies in South Africa to recognize a corporate responsibility to provide help and intervention in regards to this pandemic.

Ilinge Women Crafters

• This group provides a main source of income for numerous residents of the Zwide township in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Members focus on traditional African and modern beadwork and sewing. Following a burglary of the organization, Goodyear donated sewing machines and other accessories to help the development of the small business. After the township’s local government selected the organization to participate in a national festival of arts and culture, the new sewing machines, combined with the organization’s beadwork, provided valuable exposure and income.

North America

Education Programs

• Goodyear contributes time and financial support to education programs. It supports area universities focusing on business management, knowledge management, information architecture, engineering and finance.
• Since 1965, Goodyear has partnered with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, providing $3 million in scholarship funding to children of Goodyear associates throughout the U.S.
• Strategic business units and plants also fund scholarship programs through a multitude of local communities and organizations.
• Since 2000, associates at Goodyear headquarters in Akron have adopted an area elementary school. Associates volunteer one lunch hour a week to tutor third graders in reading. As a result, reading scores have improved by almost 100 percent during the life of the program.

Engineering Career Day for Young Women

• This program is designed for middle school and high school students and their parents. Goodyear helps teach them about career choices available with an engineering degree.

JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge

• This program, the world’s largest corporate road race series, was named "Charitable Event of the Year" in 2006 by U.S. Track & Field. Goodyear associates in Buffalo, New York participate as part of a company team.

Highway Hero Program

• Founded by Goodyear in 1983, the Highway Hero program recognizes professional truck drivers and highway safety. It acknowledges the often unnoticed, life-saving rescues and roadside assistance they provide as their jobs take them across North America. Trucking industry journalists select nominees and one driver annually receives the title of Goodyear Highway Hero.
• Similar programs have also been started in Latin America and Asia-Pacific.

Worldwide

Goodyear Strategic Charitable Giving

• Goodyear supports traditional programs that improve cities, social programs and educational opportunities in communities where Goodyear associates live, work and play, and which offer unique solutions to help keep citizens safe and secure.
• In 2007, Goodyear strategic charitable giving will reflect our internal corporate value of safety. Primary funding will be awarded to organizations whose initiatives focus on safety and relate to one or more of the following areas:
  • Civic, community and other - Grant awards will depend on local needs and customs in the
    communities in which we operate.
  • Culture and the arts - Requests from organizations and institutions serving plant communities and selected national arts organizations will be considered, provided they comply with the connection to safety.
  • Education - Requests for support from colleges, universities and other educational institutions serving the areas in which our plants and principal offices are located must demonstrate a connection with safety or must be a source of subsidized educational opportunities for Goodyear associates and their families. A limited number of private and public universities of national or regional significance, whose programs are of special interest or those that provide a continuing source of associates to Goodyear, may also receive priority.
  • Health and human services - Highest priority is given to United Way campaigns in communities where our plants and principal offices are located. Organizations receiving United Way support may not be eligible for additional funding.
• A majority of approved grants will provide funding to programs that remind citizens that Goodyear tires are the best choice for their diverse transportation needs.