Mr. Mcl....:
Thank you for your email and for sharing your opinions regarding the current
Michelin bobblehead promotion. The promotion originated with a television
commercial, which features a dog being reunited with its owner. Based on the
theme of the commercial, we felt it would be appropriate to support an agency
that assists in the rescue of animals. That is why we chose the Red Star
Emergency Services division of the American Humane Association, a group of
volunteers that rescues pets and animals during floods, wildfires, tornadoes and
other disasters.
We have a history of working to support charitable organizations of all types,
such as United Way, Special Olympics, March of Dimes and the American Cancer
Society. On September 12, 2001, Michelin donated $1 million to provide aid to
the families of the victims of 911 in addition to a quarter million dollars in
tires and services to recovery efforts in New York City and Washington, D.C.
Thousands of Michelin employees volunteer across the country in local enrichment
programs such as Meals on Wheels and other vital non-profit services.
The emails, letters and phone calls we have received from sportsmen and
sportswomen like you have helped us understand the reasoning and strong
conviction behind your views. Therefore we will explore a broader range of
viewpoints if we develop similar programs in the future.
Michelin maintains a strong conviction to uphold our commitments. We hope you
understand that we are bound to honor our agreement to support Red Star
Emergency Services which is not meant to express a point of view about hunting,
but to express our support of people and their pets. Our donation is
specifically allocated for vehicles and training for the Red Star Emergency
services teams.
Sincerely,
Philip J. Romba
Public Relations Manager
