Five Good Things: Nonprofits awarded, 'GivingTuesday'

Even though Thanksgiving is over, the trucking industry still feels generous and thankful. Check out how the industry supports others in this week’s Five Good Things.

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FedEx Freight and Christmas Spirit Foundation celebrate landmark milestone

The milestone tree was delivered on Dec. 1, 2023.

FedEx Freight will deliver the 300,000th tree for the Christmas Spirit Foundation’s annual Trees for Troops program this year. The milestone tree arrived at Fort Liberty on Dec. 1, alongside nearly 16,000 trees slated for families at over 90 military bases across the U.S. this December.

“Every year, the FedEx Freight team puts in tireless effort to support Trees for Troops and the Christmas Spirit Foundation. This milestone 300,000th tree delivery is a direct reflection of our dedication to both causes,” said Lance Moll, president and CEO of FedEx Freight. “Through our industry-leading transportation network, we are honored to give back to local communities and military families whose values have always been closely tied to the core mission of our company.”

Since 2005, FedEx Freight has supported the Trees for Troops program, an initiative that delivers farm-grown Christmas trees to domestic and international U.S. military bases. This collaboration has become a tradition for FedEx Freight, with drivers logging over 600,000 miles for tree deliveries over the years. FedEx operates the largest for-hire fleet in the U.S., according to the FleetOwner 500: For-Hire.

“This program started on a crazy idea and started small. We delivered 4,300 trees to only five bases that first year,” said Wendy Richardson, chair of the Christmas Spirit Foundation board of trustees. “It’s hard to believe we’re now going to exceed 300,000 total trees since we began working with FedEx 19 years ago. The commitment and dedication of all involved is truly inspiring. We love providing Christmas spirit to the men and women and their families in our military, one tree at a time.”

Trees for Troops kicked off Nov. 27, as hundreds of donors and volunteers came together to help make this effort a success. There are two ways the public can support Trees for Troops:

Donate a tree for delivery to a base at one of the official Trees for Troops locations. Some locations offer online tree purchase options for shoppers' convenience. Donated trees must be purchased by Dec. 3 to ensure pickup and delivery by FedEx Freight.
Visit the Trees for Troops website to donate online.

Navistar awards eight nonprofit organizations funding for environmental initiatives

Navistar Inc. recently announced the inaugural award recipients for its newly launched environmental equity programs.

The programs, considered for up to three years of funding, presented outcomes-based proposals supporting local environmental initiatives in under-resourced communities. Each organization's three-year plan articulated a theory of change for community impact as a result of the program activities.

Programs considered for funding were required to map out a logic model identifying resources contributed, proposed activities, expected short-term outputs, desired long-term outcomes, associated indicators of program success, and data collection and evaluation methods.

The 2023 awardees are:

"Navistar continues to demonstrate a focus on social impact in the communities where we live and work by partnering with community organizations near our operations to support environmental projects while launching volunteer platforms for employees to celebrate and reward their community engagement efforts," said Haydee Nuñez, social impact manager, Navistar. "We are thrilled to be announcing our awardees and especially excited to be able to make this announcement on 'GivingTuesday.'"

The awarded projects listed above include supporting conservation education programs, increasing tree canopies in high-need areas, supporting urban farming to reduce food insecurity, and contributing innovative approaches to carbon capture in public spaces.

Fleet Advantage and its Kids Around The Corner Foundation unveil major giving initiatives this holiday season

Fleet Advantage recently announced a series of donations and volunteer efforts through its Kids Around The Corner Foundation to support 4KIDS of South Florida and Junior Achievement of South Florida.

In the spirit of GivingTuesday, KATC made a substantial donation to 4KIDS, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing homes and support for foster children. This donation also includes funds toward toys for 4KIDS’ Gift of Hope Toy Store, and all donations received will be matched thanks to a group of 4KIDS friends.

Fleet Advantage associates also contributed their time by assembling gingerbread house kits, ensuring the success of 4KIDS’ annual Gingerbread House Building Contest. On Dec. 12, another group of Fleet Advantage associates will assist foster and adoptive parents in ‘shopping’ for free toys at the Gift of Hope Toy Store.

Continuing its commitment to community support and engagement, the foundation collaborates again with Junior Achievement of South Florida. This organization educates students about financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and work readiness. KATC plans to make another significant donation with a check presentation scheduled for Dec. 13, and this will solidify its role as the nonprofit’s “South Palm Beach County Financial Literacy Sponsor.”

With active support in programs from elementary, middle, and high schools, Fleet Advantage’s support through KATC will allow Junior Achievement to overcome barriers such as transportation and per-student funding, ensuring that students in the community receive vital financial literacy education and workforce readiness skills.

“After donating to and volunteering with 4KIDS and Junior Achievement of South Florida in the past, we are thrilled to support these two impactful organizations once again,” said Brian Holland, president and CEO of Fleet Advantage and director and treasurer of KATC. “These organizations align with our mission to make a positive impact on the lives of children and contribute to their education and well-being. We believe in giving back to the communities we serve, and through these partnerships, we aim to make a lasting difference in the lives of those in need.”

Fullbay celebrates 'GivingTuesday' with over $15,000 in donations to heavy-duty industry charities

Fullbay is celebrating 'GivingTuesday' by emphasizing the importance of giving back and supporting the heavy-duty repair industry. Throughout 2023, through its Fullbay Cares initiative, the company has donated more than $15,000 to industry-focused charity organizations.

In 2023, Fullbay Cares supported charities, including Truckers Against Trafficking, St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund, Truckers Final Mile, and Folds of Honor. This year, Fullbay also launched its new lifestyle website, All About the Grilles, which sells heavy-duty apparel and other merchandise. The company also published a children’s book, Truck Tales 2, and announced that Truck Tales 3 is soon to come. All proceeds from sales of the apparel and books go directly back to Fullbay Cares and are distributed to industry charities.

“We are honored to be able to give back to our heavy-duty repair community and do what we can to help others and make their lives easier—especially during the holiday season,” said Jacob Findlay, Fullbray co-founder and executive chairman. “Every year, I’m inspired by the generosity of our industry. Giving back is a non-negotiable component of our business as we want to shed light and pay respect to the hard-working individuals and groups who keep America’s trucks running.”

In December, Fullbay will support Sleigh Bells and Santa, an annual Christmas campaign to provide support and presents to children during the holidays after the loss of a commercial truck driver parent.

The Fullbay Cares initiative was launched in 2020 to support the heavy-duty repair community by providing charitable donations, educational resources, opportunities to volunteer, and more. Since then, the initiative has donated over $84,000 to deserving organizations.

XPO donates 61k+ socks

XPO first began donating to Socktober in 2011.

XPO announced that during October, the company and its employees donated over 61,000 socks in a grassroots initiative called Socktober.

Socktober aims to make a difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness. Homelessness remains a pressing issue, with approximately 582,000 Americans experiencing homelessness in 2022. One of the most fundamental needs is often overlooked: socks, especially as the colder months approach.

XPO employees across over 200 locations supported Socktober by donating 61,000 pairs of socks for community homeless shelters, far surpassing the goal of collecting 50,000 pairs of socks. It also surpassed last year’s collection of 42,000 socks.

XPO first began supporting Socktober in 2011, the same year the initiative was created by Brad Montague, a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator who wanted to help the homeless community within his community. He found that socks were the least donated clothing item to shelters. This campaign was part of XPO’s efforts to make an impact in the very communities it serves every day.