Trees for Troops – How the Holidays Arrive for the Military

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation are joining forces again for a special delivery to America’s service members and their families with the Trees for Troops program.

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Trees for Troops and FedEx help the holidays arrive for the military by delivering more than 18,000 Christmas trees to U.S. troops and their families. (Photo: Business Wire)

Since the Trees for Troops program launched in 2005, FedEx has shipped more than 157,000 real Christmas trees to service members and their families—covering every branch of the military at more than 65 bases in 17 countries.

This year marks the 11th anniversary of the program. Thanks to the generosity of tree farmers across North America, more than 18,000 live Christmas trees will be donated and delivered to more than 65 military bases during the busy weeks leading up to Christmas.

“Not only are we delivering Christmas trees to our military members and their families – we’re delivering special moments for the holidays,” said Mike Ducker, president and CEO, FedEx Freight. “Trees for Troops is a hallmark of the holiday season for FedEx, and we are honored to leverage our network in this unique way to thank them for their service.”

Delivering Holiday Joy Around the World

The Trees for Troops initiative kicks off today in Thorntown, Indiana, as FedEx volunteers prepare 200 live Christmas trees for service members stationed overseas. The Christmas trees, donated by members of the Indiana Christmas Tree Growers Association, will be delivered to service members stationed in the Middle East and South Pacific via FedEx Express.

Once the international deliveries have taken flight, FedEx Freight will hit the road with more than 18,000 fresh-cut Christmas trees to be delivered to U.S. military bases beginning Dec. 2, with final deliveries scheduled for Dec. 11. Many of these deliveries include special holiday festivities in which military families receive their anticipated Christmas tree.

Join the Effort

Anyone can support Trees for Troops by donating to the program or purchasing fresh trees at one of more than 30 Christmas tree retail locations nationally during Trees for Troops weekend, Dec. 4-6. Donated trees will be added to the program’s planned deliveries to U.S. bases during 2015. More information on how to get involved can be found at www.treesfortroops.org.

“This program unites everyone with a common goal of making sure our military feels supported during the Christmas season,” said Nigel Manley, Christmas SPIRIT Foundation chairman. “Tree growers donate trees, consumers purchase trees for loved ones, companies donate to support the program and FedEx Freight makes sure it all happens.”

Trees for Troops is part of FedEx Special Delivery, a nationwide FedEx program that supports local organizations by donating transportation services and other assistance to help them fulfill their missions. For information about the peak holiday season at FedEx, visit the FedEx Newsroom.

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 $48 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 325,000 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 Christmas SPIRIT Foundation

The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization that works to recognize and support the true spirit of Christmas for U.S. troops through the Trees for Troops® program. The foundation was established in 2005 and is among fewer than five percent of U.S. charities to be awarded the “Best in America” seal of excellence by Independent Charities of America. Trees for Troops was a Top 20 Finalist in the 2012 Joining Forces Campaign, a White House initiative that honors exemplary support organizations for military families. To learn more, visit www.treesfortroops.org or call 636.449.5060.

About the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA)

The National Christmas Tree Association is the national trade association representing the farm-grown Christmas tree industry. NCTA represents more than 500 active member farms, 29 state and regional associations, and 4,000 affiliated businesses that grow and sell Christmas trees or provide related supplies and services. It is estimated that those affiliated with the NCTA produce roughly three-quarters of the farm-raised Christmas trees in the United States. To learn more, visit www.realchristmastrees.org or call 636.449.5070.

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