Xi’an, September 5, 2013 — FedEx Express, one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, today announced its partnership with the Audiology Development Foundation of China (ADFC) to launch FedEx Hearing Aids for Children. Li Heqi, party secretary of Xi’an Disabled Persons Federation, Eddy Chan, senior vice president of FedEx China and Chang An-Tien, the leading deputy secretary of ADFC attended the launch event organized in the Xi’an No.2 Deaf and Mute Special School.
Targeting three western China cities over a three-year period through a FedEx donation of RMB 1 million, the program will provide advanced hearing aids to deaf children from poor families so that they can communicate and learn in a normal social setting.
Xi’an is the first city to benefit from FedEx Hearing Aids for Children. Through great support from the Xi’an Disabled Persons’ Federation, a preliminary audio screening was held for 6 to 15 year-old children of migrant workers or low-income families. Twenty-four children were identified as appropriate candidates for customized binaural hearing aids. These advanced hearing aids were custom fitted for each child and will help improve the quality of their lives by enabling them to interact and function in the hearing world.
The 24 recipients of the hearing aids attended the launch ceremony, and a group of FedEx volunteers from Xi’an helped them put on their customized hearing aids. The volunteers then congratulated the children on their ability to hear and encouraged them to be actively involved in school and society.
“We are glad to see that the first phase of FedEx Hearing Aids for Children in Xi’an has enabled deaf children to hear and feel the care and warmth of society,” noted Chang An-Tien from ADFC. “We look forward to continued cooperation with FedEx as we unfold the program in western China so more deaf children are given the gift of sound.”
“It is a great pleasure for FedEx to launch FedEx Hearing Aids for Children together with ADFC,” said Eddy Chan, senior vice president, FedEx China. “FedEx is committed to exploring new ways to help disadvantaged groups, particularly children who are our future. We look forward to giving more children the ability to hear.”
One of the parent representatives, expressed her gratitude on behalf of the families of the 24 children,“As a mother of a hearing-impaired child, I would like to thank FedEx, ADFC and the Xi’an Disabled Persons’ Federation for improving the hearing of my child. Without their support, my family would not have the means to afford the custom-made hearing aids and my child would have missed the opportunity to hear. We give our heartfelt thanks to FedEx and ADFC for launching this program, which will change the lives many more deaf children by restoring their ability hear and enable them to lead a normal life.”
Over the next two years, FedEx Hearing Aids for Children will expand to Chengdu in Sichuan Province and Yinchuan in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, bringing the gift of sound to more deaf children in western China.
About FedEx Express
FedEx Express is one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, providing fast and reliable delivery 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].
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 $44 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 300,000 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 Audiology Development Foundation of China
The Audiology Development Foundation of China was founded in 1995, with registered capital of RMB11.1 million. It is approved by the National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People’s Republic of China, People’s Bank of China, and is registered in the Ministry of Civil Affairs as a nonprofit national organization under leadership of the National Health and Family Planning Commission. The Chairman is Mme. Tao Si Liang. The foundation’s mission is to advocate charity and raise money, actively developing China’s public service activities and hearing medicines.
[1] Subject to relevant terms and conditions