The gifts were announced at the company’s 22nd Annual ATD Charity Classic golf tournament, an event that has raised more than $1 million for nonprofit organizations. This year’s donations were raised by contributions from vendors participating in the golf tournament and a contribution jy`from ATD.
“We’ve been a member of the Charlotte community for over 75 years and we believe it’s absolutely essential to support groups that help address the important needs of our community,” said William Berry, president and chief executive officer of American Tire Distributors. Each Boundless Playground Tread Town’s foundation is constructed from recycled rubber, creating a universally accessible surface that allows children and caregivers with and without disabilities to enjoy the playground freely and safely. The playground promotes inclusive, unstructured play with ramped wheelchair access to the highest platforms, features exclusive Tread Town tire swings and several other fitness and educational-based activities.
ATD’s donation of $100,000 will go to support the creation of two Tread Town playgrounds, and potential sites have been identified on the West Coast and in the Southeast. The new playgrounds will resemble existing Tread Towns located in the metro areas of Charlotte; Jackson, Miss.; and Memphis, Tenn.
“Nearly seven million children nationwide have a disability that prohibits them from enjoying the full experience of a traditional community playground,” says Fred Leone, chief executive officer of Boundless Playgrounds. “Our playgrounds are designed to put all children in the middle of the fun, where they can play together and learn to appreciate each others’ abilities.”
ATD also donated $35,000 to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, which provides food and other essential grocery products to the more than 405,000 people living at or below the poverty level in the region, which includes 145,000 children. ATD’s donation will assist in the Backpack Program initiative that provides food for children at risk of hunger on weekends and
holidays when school meals are not available. The backpacks are distributed every Friday and include soups, fruit, canned chicken, and several other items.
“We are very pleased to receive this donation from American Tire Distributors,” says Kay Carter, executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. “This donation comes at a great time. School has just started back and children who are at risk of hunger are in need of the backpacks full of nutritious, ready-to-eat foods on the weekends when subsidized school meals are not available. Donations like this help us continue our current backpack programs and help start new ones.”
ATD donated another $35,000 to The Salvation Army Center of Hope, an emergency shelter for homeless women and children. “The Center of Hope is the place women come to when they have no other options,” says Deronda Metz, director of The Salvation Army’s Social Services.
ATD is the nation’s largest independent supplier of tires to the replacement tire market, employing almost 3,000 people across its nationwide distribution center network, including more than 350 at its Huntersville field support center, Charlotte distribution center and regional hub in Maiden.
