FedEx Delivers Holiday Cheer to U.S. Armed Services Members and Their Families

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation are joining together this holiday season to deliver real Christmas trees to thousands of military members and their families through the popular Trees for Troops program, now entering its sixth year.

“Many of these families have loved ones deployed overseas and times can be hard for them”
In the weeks leading up to Christmas, FedEx will deliver approximately 15,000 real Christmas trees to more than 50 military facilities in the United States and overseas as part of the 2010 Trees for Troops program.

The Trees for Troops program allows us to give something back to the military men and women who give so much throughout the year to serve our country,” said Bill Logue, president and CEO, FedEx Freight. “The FedEx team is proud to continue delivering holiday cheer to military men, women and families.

On Wednesday, November 10, the initiative will begin in Columbus, Ohio, when FedEx Express picks up approximately 300 trees from the Ohio Christmas Tree Association’s Operation Evergreen at the Ohio Department of Agriculture Reynoldsburg campus. These trees will be delivered to service members stationed in Iraq via the FedEx Express hub in Indianapolis.

A second shipment of nearly 100 trees will depart from Indianapolis on Tuesday, November 30 for service members stationed in Bahrain, aboard vessels of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, and other locations.

Frank Williams, a FedEx Freight driver based at the company’s San Diego facility, has participated in recent years in the delivery of trees to military bases throughout Southern California as part of the program. As a Marine veteran formerly based at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Williams takes great pride in doing something nice for deserving members of the military and their families. “Many of these families have loved ones deployed overseas and times can be hard for them,” said Williams. “I can tell you firsthand they truly appreciate these trees and are reminded that many people are thinking of them and wishing them all the best, especially during the holidays.” Williams will be one of the FedEx drivers delivering more than 800 Christmas trees to Camp Pendleton on Thursday, December 2.

Since its first year in 2005, the Trees for Troops program has quadrupled in size and donations. Program highlights include:

 

 

• In the program's first year, 4,300 trees were delivered to troops and military families at five bases in the U.S. and overseas.
• More than 65,000 real Christmas trees have been distributed to families in every branch of the military at more than 50 bases in 17 countries.
• More than 800 tree farms and retail lots in 27 states have donated trees.
• FedEx Freight trucks have traveled nearly 200,000 over-the-road miles to pick up and deliver the trees.
• Throughout November, National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) members around the country will donate thousands of trees to Trees for Troops through the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, the NCTA's philanthropic branch. FedEx Express air operations will handle international tree deliveries, and the FedEx Freight trucking networks will move trees to military bases throughout the United States.

As in previous years, the public may also participate in Trees for Troops by purchasing trees and attaching a personal message for troops at more than 30 retail locations nationally during the official Trees for Troops weekend, December 3 – 5. Donated trees will be added to the program’s delivery schedule. Retail locations are available at www.treesfortroops.org.

Trees for Troops is a part of FedEx Special Delivery, a nationwide program that supports local organizations by donating transportation services and other assistance to help them fulfill their missions. For more information about FedEx Special Delivery and FedEx during the peak holiday season, please visit http://news.fedex.com.
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 $36 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 285,000 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 Christmas SPIRIT Foundation
The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, based in Chesterfield, Mo., is 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation that advances the Christmas Spirit for kids, families and the environment. Trees for Troops is just one of its projects. For more details or to donate, visit www.ChristmasSpiritFoundation.org.

About the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA)
NCTA is the professional organization representing nearly 5,000 farms and retailers engaged in growing and selling Real Christmas Trees to nearly 30 million consumers. Based in Chesterfield, Mo., NCTA's mission is to promote the use of Real Christmas Trees and support the industry that provides them. For more information, go to www.realchristmastrees.org.