Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is tying its latest sports marketing promotion to the National Basketball Association playoff games. Goodyear will honor babies born in Akron-area hospitals during the NBA Finals with a “Most Valuable Ride” care package.
The care package consists of a set of Goodyear tires, an “AkronBorn” onesie and a new infant car seat. The promotion celebrates the Akron birthplace shared by basketball greats LeBron James and Stephen Curry as well as the company’s corporate symbol, the Goodyear blimp.
Goodyear says three Akron-based medical facilities – Summa Akron City Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Akron General and Akron Children’s Hospital – will “assist” the initiative and help deliver the care packages to families of newborns. The package builds on Goodyear’s recent Safe Mobility Project with Akron Children’s Hospital.
“Akron is a special place and Goodyear wants to celebrate the great things that are born here,” says Seth Klugherz, Goodyear’s director of North America marketing. “The support we have received from our community partners truly represents the foundation of this program and we are excited to recognize this in an impactful way that will produce delightful moments for some deserving families.”
Goodyear says it will promote the "Most Valuable Ride" care package through social media content, print advertising and community engagement.
The Akron-based tire manufacturer will conduct a social media campaign asking consumers to take pictures of Goodyear tires on their vehicles and share them using #AkronBorn with one winner being selected for a ride in the Goodyear Blimp.
Additionally, community members born in Akron will be invited to post a photo of themselves and use #AkronBorn to show their local pride.
For #AkronBorn details, visit Goodyear’s Twitter (@Goodyear) and Facebook platforms (Goodyear).
