MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 15, 2019 —The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center named FedEx the winner of the 2019 Citizens Awards, in the category of Best Disaster Response & Community Resilience Program.
The award recognizes FedEx for the company’s collaboration with International Medical Corps. FedEx and International Medical Corps have innovated disaster response by redesigning an emergency field hospital to create rapidly deployable medical assets and health facilities to more effectively respond to global disasters.
“FedEx is proud to work alongside International Medical Corps to deliver essential, often lifesaving resources, when and where they’re needed most,” said Jenny Robertson, vice president corporate communications, FedEx. “Our team members take great pride in being involved with relief efforts and we are honored to be recognized alongside so many other companies working to build a more connected world.”
FedEx logistics experts worked with International Medical Corps to make the field hospital more flexible to support varying types of disasters, including infectious disease outbreaks, nutrition emergencies and more. The field hospital is stored near the FedEx World Hub in Memphis to enable the rapid deployment of the hospital following a disaster.
“Our collaboration with FedEx means that when disaster strikes, our first responders are able to get there, no matter where, equipped with the resources we need to save lives,” said Nancy Aossey, President and CEO of International Medical Corps. “Working together with FedEx, and leveraging its assets, expertise and people, we are able to respond more quickly and effectively, and help communities to build back better.”
Since the collaboration began, FedEx and International Medical Corps have:
- Enabled health centers to conduct 290,000 consultations to Puerto Ricans following Hurricane Maria
- Delivered 30,000 pounds of medical shelters and personal protective equipment to the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the Ebola crisis
- Offered continued care to almost 4,000 patients in Florida after Hurricane Michael
- Shipped components of the field hospital for International Medical Corps to set up a health facility following Hurricane Dorian
More than 1 million people have received services as a result of this collaboration, which is part of the FedEx Cares “Delivering for Good” initiative. The company uses its unparalleled expertise in shipping and logistics to connect organizations, communities and individuals through charitable shipping and cash donations.
“The relationship between FedEx and International Medical Corps is raising the bar when it comes to disaster response,” said Marc DeCourcey, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “Their collaboration has positively impacted the lives of countless individuals and continues to build greater community resilience for areas who need it most.”
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Citizens Awards honor businesses for their significant positive impact in communities around the world. For 20 years, this awards program has illustrated how every day businesses serve as a powerful force for good and lead the charge in creating innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Companies and chambers of commerce from around the globe compete for the Citizens Awards, making them one of the most prestigious honors in corporate citizenship.
The Chamber Foundation announced the winners of the 2019 Citizens Awards Nov. 14 at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the awards program here.