MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 25, 2009 – FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) is once again heralding the holiday season by delivering packages for busy shoppers – as well as non-profit organizations in need of a helping hand. Throughout November and December, FedEx will expand its year-round initiatives to provide volunteer hours and in-kind delivery services to a variety of unique and worthy groups around the world.
“Even though this is our busiest time of the year, so many of our team members want to go the extra mile to help people in need in their own communities,” said T. Michael Glenn, executive vice president of Market Development and Corporate Communications at FedEx. “We are proud to support our team members in delivering many kinds of cheer and sustenance to brighten people’s holidays around the world.”
FedEx and its more than 275,000 worldwide team members regularly leverage the company’s global network of aircraft, vehicles and facilities as a powerful philanthropic resource to positively impact communities around the world.
During this busy holiday season, FedEx will undertake some of its most rewarding annual activities which follow.
Happier Holidays for Military Men and Women
For the fifth consecutive year, FedEx is teaming with the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation to deliver the holiday spirit to service men and women serving overseas, as well as military families with loved ones stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan and Qatar.
As part of the Trees for Troops program, FedEx transported thousands of real Christmas trees to Iraq for distribution at U.S. military bases across the Middle East. In addition, throughout November and December, FedEx will deliver more than 15,000 fresh-cut Christmas trees to the families of soldiers at more than 50 military bases throughout the United States.
The trees are donated by members of the National Christmas Tree Association and trucked in by FedEx Freight from all across the country. Throughout the course of the program’s history, FedEx has helped the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation distribute more than 50,000 real Christmas trees in the U.S. and around the world.
FedEx Ground is also providing in-kind shipping services for Wreaths Across America, an initiative which honors veterans’ service by placing holiday wreaths on graves in cemeteries across the world—including Arlington National Cemetery. In 2008, more than 300 locations held wreath-laying ceremonies and more than 100,000 wreaths were placed on veterans’ graves with help from 60,000 volunteers.
FedEx Special Delivery
Launched in 2004, FedEx Special Delivery delivers help and hope to organizations, children and families across the U.S. and Canada by supporting charitable collections, deliveries and events that benefit the local community with in-kind use of specially designed FedEx vehicles. Since the program began, thousands of FedEx employees have come together to help make the program a success—and never more visibly than during the holiday season.
This November and December, FedEx Special Delivery vans will be participating in New York-based food and coat drives; toy drives in Indianapolis, Dallas and Pittsburgh; food collections in Washington, D.C., and more.
On Dec. 12, 2009, FedEx will serve as the presenting sponsor of the Magic Johnson Annual Toy Drive Holiday Party for more than 300 children in Los Angeles. Dozens of FedEx volunteers will join the Magic Johnson Foundation staff members in hosting the event. Prior to the event, a FedEx Special Delivery truck will pick up hundreds of toys from Toys R Us and deliver them to the AMC Magic Johnson Theater.
FedEx & America’s Food Banks
FedEx has built relationships with food banks and hunger relief programs across the U.S. to address the needs of the 36 million Americans living at risk for hunger by leveraging the reach, strength and expertise within our networks. These support efforts include donations of volunteer time, transportation, food and money for these worthy programs.
Over the past year, hundreds of FedEx team members volunteered countless hours to pick up, deliver, sort or donate approximately 3.5 million pounds of food across a wide range of cities, including Boston, Indianapolis, Memphis, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C. These efforts resulted in approximately 100,000 meals being provided to those in need.
During this holiday season, FedEx facilities and team members in Boston will continue their 22-year history of support for the city’s Can Share program, an annual food drive supporting The Greater Boston Food Bank. FedEx couriers collect Can Share boxes filled with non-perishables from local businesses, municipal buildings and schools around the city. FedEx volunteers organize the donations for bulk deliveries to the Food Bank, which uses them to restock shelves at more than 90 food pantries in Boston, as well as shelters, soup kitchens and free meal programs.
In Washington, D.C., FedEx volunteers will work side-by-side with Washington Redskins players and more than 300 local volunteers for the annual Redskins Harvest Feast food distribution at FedExField. The event will sort and distribute Thanksgiving Day meals to families in need at three shelters in Prince George’s County, Md.
Similar seasonal initiatives with regional food banks are also taking place with the Food Bank for New York City, the San Francisco Food Bank and others.
Educational Endeavors
FedEx believes that educating and inspiring leaders is vital to our future, and we support organizations that improve educational outcomes, inspire participation in global trade and provide access to opportunities.
During the holiday season of 2009, FedEx operations in Latin America and the Caribbean will again put their networks to use to deliver the joy of reading to children through the FedEx Entrega program. FedEx Entrega is designed to encourage the love of reading and learning in those who have limited or no access to books. FedEx World Service Centers throughout the region welcome customers to come in and donate new or used children’s books in good condition through December.
FedEx is also continuing its long-standing work with Junior Achievement. As part of a global sponsorship reaching students in 50 countries, FedEx is announcing finalists for and sponsoring the America’s Region Student Company of the Year Competition in Buenos Aires, Argentina, December 10 – 13.
About FedEx
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $34 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 275,000 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.
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