HONG KONG, July 26, 2006 - FedEx Express (FedEx), a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and the world’s largest express transportation company, today announced its sponsorship of five Hong Kong secondary school students to attend the first-ever FedEx International Junior Leadership Conference in West Palm Beach, Florida, USA from July 30 to August 4. The sponsorship is part of FedEx’s ongoing strategic partnership with Junior Achievement (JA) Hong Kong, a non-profit organization, to foster entrepreneurship among young people in Hong Kong.
Organized in collaboration with Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches, the World Trade Center Palm Beach and Northwood University, the conference program consists of daily interactive classroom exercises and visits to prominent sites, including FedEx’s International Hub in Miami. Together with more than 100 students aged 16 to 19 from 19 countries, the five Hong Kong representatives will learn about entrepreneurship, free enterprise, ethical business perspectives, creativity and innovation, the arts and business, and leadership principles during the conference.
The sponsorship from FedEx covers travel and registration expenses for the five Hong Kong students and one JA Hong Kong chaperone. The students were selected through a series of evaluations, including nominations from principals and school teachers, an essay competition on international business challenges, and an interview session conducted by representatives of FedEx and JA Hong Kong to evaluate the students’ understanding of international business, global vision and self ambitions.
The five selected students from Hong Kong are:
Wong Wai Man, Andrea, Holy Trinity College
“This sponsorship shows FedEx’s commitment to educating tomorrow’s business leaders,” said David L. Cunningham Jr., President of FedEx Express Asia Pacific. “As a facilitator of global trade, we not only provide convenient, reliable access for our customers, but are also committed to supporting the development of the next generation in the economies where we operate.”
“Through interactive discussions and learning by doing, this conference equips young people with the skills and knowledge of how business and culture work together in a global context. Riding on the JA Worldwide network, students can broaden their horizons and develop the global vision essential for their future success,” said Vivian Lau, the Chief Executive Officer of JA Hong Kong. “We sincerely thank FedEx for their full support of this valuable learning opportunity and ongoing commitment to the young people of Hong Kong.”
As title sponsor of the conference, FedEx has worked with the World Trade Center and JA affiliates to identify and recruit participants from 19 countries. Apart from the five Hong Kong students, FedEx has sponsored the participation of another 60 students and 12 chaperones from Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Northern Ireland, and the United States.
FedEx has been partnering with JA Hong Kong since 2003. Through providing volunteer support in business education programs offered by JA Hong Kong, FedEx employees share their expertise to bridge the gap between education and business and inspire young people to the career and opportunities that exist in the communities around them. Across the globe, FedEx employees log over 100,000 hours of volunteer work each year in support of JA and many other philanthropic causes.
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