Asia Pacific (English)

The Smith Family Joins Harvard to Provide 1,000 Blankets for Japan’s Earthquake/ Tsunami Survivors

HONG KONG, May 26, 2011 – The Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation joins Harvard University in donating over 1,000 new wool blankets to the victims of the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 11, 2011. The arrival of the blankets was announced by the Director of Health and Welfare in Ibaraki Prefectural Government at a site where they are being distributed to families in need. The blankets were transported compliments of FedEx from the manufacturer in the US to Tokyo.



“From the moment we learned of the tragic earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the students and faculty of the Harvard Foundation wished to assist the survivors in some meaningful way,” said Dr. S. Allen Counter, Director of the Harvard Foundation and Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. “I immediately turned to the Smith family, who are known for their compassion and generosity toward victims of natural disasters. In 2010, the Smith Family Foundation provided over 100 tents to house victims of the tragic earthquake in Haiti. We are thankful to the Smith family for their act of heartfelt kindness and generosity toward our friends in Japan. Some years ago, I worked on a biomedical project in an earthquake devastated area in the Andes Mountains, and I learned from this experience that one of the first relief items requested by the survivors, especially children, was a blanket to keep warm.” The blankets were transported to the earthquake/tsunami-affected areas in Ibaraki Prefectural Autonomy Japan by Harvard associate Hiromi Ikezawa and Japanese officials, who distributed them to families in need.



“We are privileged to be able to use our logistical expertise to support the delivery of these wool blankets. We hope that through this small act, we are able to bring some relief to these victims,” said David L. Cunningham, Jr., president, FedEx Express Asia Pacific.



In support of this initiative, the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation donated funds to the Harvard Foundation to purchase the blankets on behalf of their children, Trey, Jaden, and Willow, “to enable the students and faculty of the Harvard Foundation to purchase needed relief items for survivors of the tragic earthquake and tsunami in Japan.”




About FedEx Corp.


FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $38 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 290,000 team members to remain “absolutely, positively” focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit news.fedex.com



About FedEx Express


FedEx Express is the world’s largest express transportation company, providing fast and reliable delivery to every U.S. address and to more than 220 countries and territories. FedEx Express uses a global air-and-ground network to speed delivery of time-sensitive shipments, by a definite time and date with a money-back guarantee[1].


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