Social Impact & Volunteering

FedEx to Deliver Symbols of Holiday Cheer to U.S. Service Members and Their Families

Nov 20, 2012 4:30 PM ET
Campaign: FedEx Cares | Overall

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 20, 2012 /3BL Media/ – FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) is once again honoring the dedication of America’s servicemen and women by delivering real Christmas trees to military members and their families through the annual Trees for Troops® program. 

Now in its eighth year, Trees for Troops brings together FedEx, the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation and tree farmers across America to transport thousands of real Christmas trees to service members stationed overseas, as well as on military bases in the U.S.

“FedEx is once again pleased to honor our military men and women and their families by delivering a symbol of holiday cheer,” said William J. Logue, president and CEO, FedEx Freight.

Trees for Troops: Shipping Fresh Christmas Trees Across the Globe

Launching today and continuing into December, FedEx will deliver more than 300 fresh-cut Christmas trees to active duty service members overseas and more than 18,000 trees to members of the armed forces and their families stationed at military bases across the United States.  As part of the program, National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) members around the country donate thousands of fresh trees to Trees for Troops through the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, the NCTA's philanthropic branch.  FedEx Express air operations will assist with international tree deliveries while the FedEx Freight trucking network delivers the donated trees to more than 60 military bases throughout the U.S.

The Trees for Troops initiative will mobilize today in Thorntown, Indiana as FedEx Express picks up approximately 300 trees from members of the Indiana Christmas Tree Association. These trees will be delivered to service members stationed in Kuwait via the FedEx Express hub in Indianapolis.  Once the international deliveries have taken flight, FedEx Freight will hit the road with more than 18,000 fresh-cut Christmas trees to visit, in the space of two weeks, more than 60 military bases throughout the country.  

Some highlights about the Trees for Troops program 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.
  • When the 2011 program concluded, more than 103,000 real Christmas trees had been distributed to service members and their families over seven years – covering every branch of the military at more than 60 bases in 17 countries.
  • More than 800 tree farms and retail lots in 29 states have donated trees to the effort.
  • FedEx Freight trucks have traveled more than 350,000 over-the-road miles to pick up and deliver the trees.  

As in previous years, the public may also support Trees for Troops by donating to the program and/or purchasing fresh trees at one of more than 30 Christmas Tree retail locations nationally during the official Trees for Troops weekend, Nov. 30 - Dec. 2.  Donated trees will be added to the program’s planned deliveries to U.S. bases during 2012.  More information on how to get involved can be found at http://www.treesfortroops.org/.

Trees for Troops is 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.

 

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