Dépêches

FedEx Kicks Off Sixth Annual Air & Ground NFL Awards Program to Deliver Safe Kids Nationwide

Dépèche transmise le 9 septembre 2009 par Business Wire

FedEx Kicks Off Sixth Annual Air & Ground NFL Awards Program to Deliver Safe Kids Nationwide

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) announced today the kickoff of its sixth annual FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week program during a football-themed rally event at the FedEx Ground Operations headquarters just outside Pittsburgh. The awards program recognizes outstanding on-field efforts by NFL quarterbacks and running backs each week, while continuing to “deliver” Safe Kids off-the-field by supporting pedestrian safety programs through its relationship with Safe Kids USA, a national non-profit organization that works to prevent accidental injuries to children across the country.

Every Tuesday during the regular NFL season, the NFL will announce six nominees for the FedEx NFL Air & Ground Players of the Week—three Air and three Ground nominees. Fans choose the winning quarterback and running back by logging onto NFL.com/FedEx and casting their votes for the players they believe delivered the best performance the previous weekend. FedEx will announce the weekly Air and Ground winners on Fridays online at NFL.com, and subsequently make a $1,000 donation in each winning player’s name to their local Safe Kids coalition. FedEx will announce the FedEx NFL Air & Ground Players of the Year prior to Super Bowl XLIV.

Lead analyst for CBS SPORTS and former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms will once again serve as the voice of the program. “FedEx understands the need for a winning game plan both on and off the field, so it’s a natural fit for them to recognize the NFL’s best Air and Ground players,” said Simms. “As a father of three, I appreciate FedEx supporting Safe Kids USA and its commitment to making our communities safer, which is why I believe in this program.”

Throughout the season, fans can learn about the weekly Air and Ground nominees on the NFL Lowdown, a weekly show broadcast online at NFL.com/FedEx. During the program, NFL Network analysts Marshall Faulk and Rich Eisen will showcase the week’s nominees and give their predictions on the weekly winners.

Delivering Safe Kids

Aside from showcasing the NFL’s best Air and Ground players, the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week program works to deliver safe kids by continuing the company’s 10-year relationship with Safe Kids USA. According to Safe Kids, the need to improve pedestrian safety is greater than ever. In fact, the organization recently completed new research on distracted drivers in school zones, which shows one in six drivers is doing something other than focusing on the road as they drive, whether it’s using their cell phone, eating, or other diversions.

“FedEx prides itself on being a good corporate citizen, and we’re committed to improving the safety of communities where our employees and customers live, work and raise their families,” said Laurie Tucker, senior vice president, corporate marketing for FedEx. “With thousands of delivery trucks out on the roads each day, we understand the need for regular pedestrian safety improvements, especially for students in school zones. In fact, our drivers follow strict safety precautions on the job, and our goal is to get other drivers more focused on safety for everyone’s sake.”

In addition to the weekly donations to local Safe Kids USA coalitions on behalf of the winning Air and Ground players, FedEx will also continue to deliver Safe Kids by hosting several pedestrian safety “clinics,” – community education events in different NFL markets featuring Air and Ground superstars. These events will teach valuable pedestrian safety lessons to students, as well as showcase new FedEx grants to local coalitions for much-needed safety improvements.

“Thanks to FedEx support from the Air & Ground program last year, we were able to make valuable safety improvements in cities from coast to coast,” said Moira Donahue, Safe Kids USA program director. “The funding enabled our coalitions to construct new sidewalks and crosswalks in high-traffic areas, install radar speed feedback signs and improve lighting in pedestrian walkways. We also provided valuable safety training for children, safety patrols and crossing guards, all to advance our mission of injury prevention for child pedestrians.”

To learn more about the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week program, as well as how the company delivers safe kids, visit www.NFL.com/FedEx.

About FedEx

FedEx, the premier global provider of transportation, e-commerce and supply-chain management services, is the Official Delivery Service Sponsor of the NFL, Super Bowl and Pro Bowl. Through the weekly FedEx Air & Ground Awards, FedEx recognizes those NFL players who represent the same speed, precision and teamwork that their customers have come to expect from the full range of FedEx air, ground, freight and international shipping services.

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $35 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 280,000 employees and contractors 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 Safe Kids USA

Safe Kids USA is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations with the mission of preventing unintentional childhood injury, the leading cause of death and disability to children ages 1 to 14. More than 600 coalitions in the United States and nineteen member countries worldwide bring together health and safety experts, educators, corporations, foundations, governments and volunteers to educate and protect families.