Les Schwab Tire Centers Inc. is gearing up to start its Tires for Purpose effort by donating new sets of tires to nearly 400 nonprofit organizations in 14 states throughout the year.
According to Les Schwab officials, the new tires bolster vehicle safety and reliability while also helping community organizations reduce maintenance costs, allowing them to allocate more funds toward vital programs.
The first 2025 Les Schwab Tires for Purpose partners will be identified in March, with installations happening continuously across the West and Upper Midwest into the fall.
Partners in a 2024 Les Schwab Tires for Purpose pilot included Sioux Falls Thrive, which uses its mobile market to supply affordable food to food-insecure communities in South Dakota; Oregon Adaptive Sports, which builds access to outdoor recreation for people with disabilities; and Oregon’s Boys & Girls Club of Bend (BGCB), which turned the installation of the donated tires into a live demonstration for young club members as part of its #WorkforceWednesday program in October.
The new tires were installed on one of BGCB’s 16 Ford Transit vans, which are used to transport youth between the club’s two Bend-area locations and to take young people on year-round field trips.
“This donation from Les Schwab Tires benefits our kids in several ways,” says Bess Goggins, BGCB CE.
“The exposure to the benefits of an automotive career path is an excellent addition to our #WorkforceWednesday program, and the new tires will be a great help through the winter. Our vans are used daily, and safety is absolutely our priority.”
The Les Schwab Tires for Purpose program springs from Les Schwab’s commitment to strengthening and investing in communities, with a particular emphasis on supporting kids.
In 2024, Les Schwab Tires facilitated hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations of funds, toys, food, clothing and other supplies and services through its charitable activity across the Central and Western United States.
Les Schwab invites nonprofits that are making a positive difference to apply to receive a donation of a set of tires.
“We are excited to bring the Les Schwab Tires for Purpose program to many more of the communities where we work, live and play,” says Greg Waring, chief marketing officer for Les Schwab.
“This is a great way for us to help our community organizations stay on the road and do more good.”
