HONG KONG, April 29, 2013 – FedEx has been recognized for its commitment to the community and dedication to the prevention of blindness at the 5th Global CSR Awards held in Davao, Philippines. FedEx Express (FedEx), a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), was presented with the Gold Award for Best Community Program on Friday, April 19, 2013, as a global sponsor of the Flying Eye Hospital (FEH) Program with ORBIS International – the only ophthalmic surgical and training hospital with wings.
As one of the most prestigious awards programs for Corporate Social Responsibility in Asia Pacific, the Global CSR Awards recognizes companies that demonstrate dedication and innovation in achieving a sustainable business.
“FedEx envisions a world in which no one is needlessly blind. We are honored to support ORBIS across Asia Pacific and around the world and provide them with access to our unparalleled networks, dedicated employee volunteers, and aviation expertise. We are committed to addressing the social needs of the communities and are very proud that our efforts with ORBIS to save sight worldwide has been recognized,” said David Cunningham, president, FedEx Express Asia Pacific.
FedEx is the first global sponsor of ORBIS, supporting the signature Delivering Sight Worldwide initiative, designed to create awareness of preventable blindness. In Asia Pacific last year, FEH visited China, Vietnam, and the Philippines, helping local institutions take action to reach a state where they can, independently, provide quality eye care services that are affordable, accessible and sustainable in the long run.
In 2012, FedEx donated an MD-10 cargo aircraft to ORBIS to convert into the third-generation FEH. ORBIS benefits from FedEx global network and aviation expertise to help the FEH take flight. FedEx also donates transportation services to move critically needed medical supplies to ORBIS clinics and programs worldwide as well as maintenance support for the aircraft, and manages the annual safety checks for ORBIS’s flagship Flying Eye Hospital.
The FedEx culture of volunteerism is also a key driver of the FEH. FedEx pilots volunteer to fly the ORBIS DC-10 to many of its medical programs and train other volunteer pilots. FedEx team members in Asia Pacific volunteer as interpreters, escorting patients to and from their surgeries and assisting with patient screenings.