AKRON, Ohio, May 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ: GT) is hosting a Week of Volunteering to inspire its associates to engage in creating a better future in their communities.

This first-time effort, happening June 1-7, 2017, involves more than 1,100 Goodyear associates, retirees and their loved ones who will provide an estimated 5,700 hours of volunteer service to Akron-area non-profit organizations. Company locations in Brazil and China will join the effort with volunteer activities in their local communities.

The Week of Volunteering builds on the company's long-standing commitment to caring for communities where Goodyear operates. The company's corporate responsibility platform – known as Goodyear Better Future - focuses on safe, smart and sustainable community engagement programs that engage associates and create positive community outcomes.

"Volunteerism and community engagement are part of Goodyear's history and the foundation of our corporate social responsibility efforts," said Richard J. Kramer, chairman, chief executive officer and president. "The Week of Volunteering represents a step to connect more of our associates with the community and to encourage them to contribute their time, skills and resources on behalf of Goodyear throughout the year."

Through more than 60 projects, Goodyear volunteers will refurbish a camp for kids, stock community foodbanks, install smoke alarms and educate community members about road safety.

In addition to hands-on volunteer efforts that will have Goodyear associates rolling up their sleeves, the company also is offering skills-based volunteer programs where associates provide their professional skills and expertise to local non-profits. The skills-based training will include Goodyear associates providing IT consulting for non-profits, training middle school students on presentation skills, and engaging K-12 students in job shadowing activities. Non-profit representatives will also be invited to attend professional development workshops delivered by Goodyear experts in areas such as leadership development, career growth for employees and project management.

"This new Week of Volunteering and our growing emphasis on skills-based volunteerism make us excited for what's ahead," said Alison White, Goodyear's director of community engagement. "We're thrilled to empower our associates to provide their professional expertise to the community, in a way that can help make a sustained and impactful difference."

Participating organizations in Goodyear's Week of Volunteering include:

–        Akron Children's Hospital
–        Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank
–        Akron Marathon
–        Akron Public Schools - NIHF® STEM Middle School
–        American Red Cross - Summit, Portage, and Medina Counties Chapter
–        Boys and Girls Club of the Western Reserve
–        City of Akron Peacemakers
–        Downtown Akron Partnership
–        Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio
–        Leadership Akron
–        Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition
–        United Way of Summit County

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs about 66,000 people and manufactures its products in 48 facilities in 21 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear's corporate social responsibility efforts, visit www.goodyear.com/community.

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SOURCE The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company