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D.C. Salvation Army Receives Very Special Delivery from FedEx with Help of Former Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs and NASCAR Driver Denny Hamlin

Dépèche transmise le 28 mai 2009 par Business Wire

D.C. Salvation Army Receives Very Special Delivery from FedEx with Help of Former Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs and NASCAR Driver Denny Hamlin

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) enlisted the help of former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs and professional NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin to make a very special delivery to The Salvation Army-National Capital Area Command at the organization’s Harbor Light Center in Washington D.C. As part of the company’s commitment to supporting disaster relief efforts around the world, FedEx donated a custom Disaster Response Unit (DRU) to The Salvation Army, the first vehicle of its kind to be used in Washington D.C. The new DRU will help Salvation Army workers and volunteers better serve the community by providing meals to needy and displaced residents during and after natural disasters.

“At FedEx, we are passionate about helping people prepare for the unexpected and are known for making critical deliveries when and where it counts,” said Rose Flenorl, manager, Social Responsibility, FedEx Services. “Through the donation of this new Disaster Response Unit, we hope to help The Salvation Army continue to deliver much needed food and aid to D.C. residents in their times of need.”

The co-branded DRU, valued at $100,000, was presented to The Salvation Army by driver of the #11 FedEx Toyota, Denny Hamlin, and former Washington Redskins head coach and NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs. This DRU is one of 12 units that FedEx has donated to The Salvation Army global fleet during the past two years.

“It’s great to be back in Washington today with Denny and FedEx to help present this donation to The Salvation Army,” said Joe Gibbs. “FedEx continues to show its support to this great cause after more than seven years and this donation is just another example of their commitment to take care of the communities they serve.”

The DRU is outfitted with the latest equipment and technology to assist disaster response personnel in helping community members before, during and after emergencies such as fires, earthquakes, floods or other weather-related disasters.

The custom-designed and built unit features a fully functional kitchen where workers and volunteers can prepare meals to feed approximately 2,500 people per day. It is also outfitted with a GPS tracking device which keeps Salvation Army commanders aware of the unit’s exact location at any given time. In addition to assisting personnel during disaster situations, the unit will participate in The Salvation Army’s GRATE Patrol Mobile Feeding Program, which feeds anywhere from 50-100 people per evening, 365 days each year.

“Mobile feeding units are the backbone of The Salvation Army’s disaster response capability as well as our day-to-day feeding mission,” said Major Steve Morris, Area Commander for The Salvation Army-National Capital Area Command. “These Disaster Response Units, like the one donated by FedEx, allow our personnel to be among the first to reach the site of destruction and help ease the unbearable devastation experienced by so many during times of disaster. They also can be used to help us ease the suffering of our hungry neighbors by allowing us to reach them with the meals they need.”

The unit donated for use in the Washington D.C. area is one of 12 units, representing over $1.2 million dollars in vehicles that FedEx has donated worldwide in the past two years. In addition to the donation today, units have been presented to the following U.S. cities - Chicago, Miami, New Orleans, Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York - and are already in use abroad in Puerto Rico, London, Mexico City, Sydney and Winnipeg.

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 $38 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 290,000 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 The Salvation Army in the National Capital Area

Throughout this past year, The Salvation Army in the National Capital Area has assisted individuals by providing the broadest array of social services ranging from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. To give or receive help, please visit www.salarmydc.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.