FedEx Delivers Trees for Troops

MEMPHIS, Tenn.—For the fourth year, FedEx Corp. and the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation are teaming up for Trees for Troops.

In the coming weeks, tree growers, retailers and FedEx will be donating and delivering approximately 16,000 real Christmas trees to more than 45 military bases in the U.S. and overseas.

National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) members will donate the trees, while FedEx is donating transportation and logistics services to the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, the NCTA’s philanthropic branch.

“Trees for Troops delivers much-needed cheer to those families whose loved ones are serving our country and will not be home for the holidays,” says Douglas G. Duncan, president and CEO of FedEx Freight.

The 2008 Trees for Troops program will kick off Nov. 12 in Columbus, Ohio, with the pickup of 300 trees to be delivered to activated service members stationed in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. A second international shipment of approximately 100 trees will depart from the FedEx Express hub in Indianapolis on Nov. 20 for service members stationed in Bahrain and the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet.

The popular Trees for Troops program has grown rapidly since its inception in 2005, when 4,300 trees were delivered to troops and military families at five bases in the U.S. and overseas. Last year, more than 750 tree growers in 29 states donated 17,000 trees that were delivered by FedEx to 40-plus military bases. In total, more than 34,000 real Christmas trees have been distributed to families in every branch of the military in 17 countries. In the U.S., FedEx Freight trucks have traveled an estimated 90,000 miles to pick up and deliver the trees during the past three years.

The public will also have the opportunity to participate in Trees for Troops by purchasing trees and attaching a personal message at approximately 40 retail locations nationally. FedEx Freight will deliver these trees to military families throughout the country. For a list of participating Trees for Troops retail locations, visit www.treesfortroops.org.