MEMPHIS, Tenn., Oct. 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Trees for Troops, a
program that provides free, farm-grown Christmas trees to members
of all branches of the United
States military and their families, was honored today as a
recipient of the 2017 Spirit of Hope Award in a ceremony at the
Pentagon.
The Spirit of Hope Award, established in 1997, is named for
comedian and actor Bob Hope and
recognizes current and former military members, civilians and
organizations that epitomize his values of patriotism, loyalty,
freedom and dedication. Captain Sean Carroll, chief, Office
of External Outreach & Heritage, Governmental and Public
Affairs Directorate, U.S. Coast Guard, presided over the ceremony,
which recognized honorees associated with all military branches,
including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.
Each branch nominates potential honorees. Trees for Troops was
nominated by the Coast Guard Community Services Command. Trees for
Troops chairman Dick Darling and
executive director Ann O'Connor,
along with FedEx Freight senior vice president of Human Resources
Jeffery Greer, accepted the award on behalf of the program.
Trees for Troops is a joint program between the Christmas SPIRIT
Foundation, the charitable branch of the National Christmas Tree
Association, and FedEx. Since the program was established in
2005, FedEx has delivered more than 191,000 real Christmas trees to
troops and military families at more than 60 military bases in the
U.S. and overseas. In this, its 13th year, the
Trees for Troops program will surpass the 200,000th tree
mark and expects to deliver at least 17,000 trees.
"To receive a real Christmas tree while overseas is a
tremendous experience because it boosts your morale while you're
taking care of the nation's business," says Marvin Hill, project management advisor for
FedEx Freight and a 35-year U.S. Army Veteran. "At the same
time, trees are also delivered to military families back home,
reassuring service members that their families are also being taken
care of during the most wonderful time of the year. As a part
of our FedEx Cares program, we are proud to leverage our global
network in this way to help deliver the holidays for thousands of
our heroes."
Visit www.TreesforTroops.org to make a monetary donation, or
visit a participating tree farm location during the weekend of
December 1–3, 2017, to purchase a real tree to be delivered by
FedEx to a military base the following week. The 2017 Trees
for Troops program is sponsored by FedEx, the Christmas Tree
Promotion Board, Ste. Michelle Winery and JM Family
Enterprises.
About Trees for Troops
Christmas tree growers have been providing free trees for military
families for many years. In 2005, FedEx contacted the
Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, the 501(c)(3) charitable branch of the
National Christmas Tree Association, and wanted to be involved in
the foundation's mission. Together the two organizations
expanded the idea of providing Christmas trees to military
families, and Trees for Troops was born. In 2012, Trees for
Troops was also honored for exemplary service and support to
military families in a ceremony at the White House for the top 20
national finalists in the Joining Forces Community Challenge, an
initiative started by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill
Biden.
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 $61
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 400,000 team
members to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety, the
highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their
customers and communities. To learn more about how FedEx connects
people and possibilities around the world, please visit
about.fedex.com.
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SOURCE Trees for Troops