Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) has announced their partnership with Play Like a Girl!® (PLAG) on the occasion of National STEM Day. PLAG is a nonprofit that uses sports skills to help young women build careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). As part of Bridgestone’s What Really Matters brand platform to promote purpose-driven actions, they are teaming up with five professional football franchises including the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, and Tennessee Titans. Together, they will run a series of programs during the 2023-2024 season, aimed at creating equal opportunities for all and developing the next generation of women leaders.
“Participating in sports provides valuable opportunities for girls to become leaders both on and off the field. By pairing STEM education with organized sports, young women can excel in any game, in any classroom and in any career,” said Caitlyn Ranson, head of partnerships, Bridgestone Americas. “We are proud to partner with Play Like a Girl to drive engagement through our sports relationships and help create more equitable access to opportunity today and for generations to come.”
Over the past month, Bridgestone, PLAG, and participating teams have jointly organized interactive girls’ flag football Field Days. These events featured drills with professional football players, hands-on STEM activities, and a panel discussion with female leaders from each organization. PLAG has developed a custom STEM curriculum aimed at instilling teamwork, leadership, and self-confidence, which was presented to attendees.
Bridgestone will provide additional support to each girls’ flag football market in various ways, including funding for team transportation, development of a digital educational portal, equipment donation, and more. As part of the initiative, Bridgestone will make a $100,000 donation to PLAG, which will support the national expansion of its mission. This donation has the potential to impact roughly 2,000 more girls and young women across the country, with new mentoring programs and chapter expansions in current PLAG locations.
“We’re thrilled that with Bridgestone’s support we can bring our programs to even more girls in communities across the U.S.,” says Dr. Kimberly Clay, founder and CEO, Play Like a Girl. “Closing the gender gap in STEM requires reaching girls in all corners of the country. Bridgestone knows the skills learned on the field matter, and now through this partnership with Play Like a Girl—they will raise national awareness that equitable access and opportunity off the field is what really matters.”
Bridgestone has collaborated with PLAG and professional football as part of their What Really Matters partnerships platform. The platform includes initiatives with the PGA TOUR, Nashville Predators, adaptive sports organizations, and grants to over 150 non-profit organizations. The aim is to reduce barriers of entry for underrepresented groups and to serve communities where the company moves, lives, works, and plays.
Bridgestone’s partnerships align with the Bridgestone E8 Commitment, which is a set of 8 values that all start with the letter “E.” This initiative particularly aligns with the “Emotion” and “Empowerment” values of the Bridgestone E8 Commitment.
