Bridgestone Americas recently donated $100,000 to the TechForce Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to facilitating students’ technical education and guiding their automotive industry careers. The donation is from both Bridgestone Retail Operations, a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas, and the Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund. These funds aim to offer scholarships and grants to students keen on becoming automotive technicians and will assist in providing resources for those searching for post-graduation employment, the company said.
“In order to provide trusted service that helps keep drivers safe on the road, our industry must come together to help develop and support the next generation of skilled automotive technicians,” said Heather Robertson, executive director of human resources at Bridgestone Retail Operations. “A career as an automotive technician can provide competitive compensation and unlimited opportunities for growth for young people, and we appreciate our partners at the TechForce Foundation who are working to ensure they have equitable access to this job pathway.”
TechForce’s 2022 Technician Supply & Demand Report revealed an increase in demand for new technicians, nearly doubling since 2020. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data further highlighted a ratio of five job openings for every fresh technician graduate. Bridgestone’s collaboration with the TechForce Foundation began in 2015, with a shared goal to strengthen the inflow of automotive technicians into the workforce and spotlight career opportunities within the industry. Bridgestone’s contributions to the TechForce Foundation have surpassed $450,000 since the inception of the partnership.
“TechForce Foundation is uniting the industry across sectors to connect students with high-tech, hands-on careers. Today’s technicians are highly skilled STEM professionals,” said Jennifer Maher, CEO of the TechForce Foundation. “As this truth makes its way into the public consciousness, we are working harder than ever to reach receptive audiences with the life-long opportunities that come with a technician career. TechForce is excited to expand our long-time relationship with the Bridgestone family of companies to inspire, support and connect the next generation of professional technicians at this critical moment.”
Established in 2007, the TechForce Foundation has granted $18 million in scholarships and financial aid to over 50,000 students, continuing its mission to support the career growth of technicians across various sectors.
