TNT Logistics North America raised more than $150,000 in the U.S., Canada and Mexico in the first half of 2004 for the United Nations’ World Food Program (WFP). These dollars were collected on behalf of WFP as part of a series of initiatives undertaken by TNT employees over the course of the first six months of the year. This nearly equals the amount raised all of last year.
About one-third of the funds were raised through the company’s Walk the World, where employees in North America joined with 40,000 more worldwide to raise monies by a sponsored five-mile walk on Father’s Day 2004.
TNT Logistics, as part of TPG N.V., has made a long-term commitment to WFP. TNT and WFP launched a groundbreaking partnership in 2002 that is aimed at fighting world hunger. By teaming up with WFP, TNT is committed to sharing its resources and know-how to make a lifesaving difference. Every day millions of people go to bed hungry, yet the planet produces more than enough food to provide for its entire population. The problem is getting the food to the people who need it in emergency situations. Logistics is an essential weapon in the fight against hunger.
“In addition to financial support, logistics is a key area where TNT can contribute,” said Fred Griffiths, vice president of purchasing and disbursements, and team leader for WFP participation by TNT’s North American business unit. “As a global company, we’re able to help with emergency response and supply chain improvements in getting food collected and distributed to vital parts of the world.”
The dollars raised by TNT employees are earmarked for WFP’s Global School Feeding Campaign, which has been able to demonstrate the value of tying nutrition with education and health, producing long-term benefits for pupils, their families and the communities where they live. Through fundraising efforts and volunteer programs, TNT strives to raise cash and awareness for this campaign between its global workforce and business partners.
Set up in 1963, the World Food Program is the United Nations’ frontline agency in the fight against global hunger. In 2003, WFP fed nearly 110 million people in 82 countries, including most of the world’s refugees and internally displaced people. WFP is the largest provider of nutritious meals to poor school children and through its School Feeding program aims to ensure the world’s 300 million undernourished children are educated. Providing a nutritious meal at school is a simple but concrete way to give poor children a chance to learn and thrive. It costs 19 cents a day or $34 per school year, to feed a child at school and yet the benefits are invaluable.
For more information on WFP http://www.wfp.org/. For information on TNT Logistics, visit http://www.tntlogistics.us/.
