FED EX CORPORATION

Throughout our 65-year history, the March of Dimes has relied on the generosity of the American public to help us pursue our mission of saving babies’ lives. In the past decade, the willingness of corporate America to involve their employees in community service and fund-raising activities that support our cause has enhanced our ability to fund the research, health education and advocacy efforts that help families have healthy babies. FedEx Corporation stands apart as one of our most valued corporate partners. It is with great pleasure that the March of Dimes nominates FedEx Corporation for the Points of Light Award.

As with many of our corporate supporters, FedEx’s involvement with the March of Dimes began at a grassroots level. Since the 1980’s FedEx employees at their Memphis headquarters have banded together each spring to participate in WalkAmerica, the March of Dimes largest annual fund-raising event. As the corporation grew, so did their employee support, and in 2001, FedEx coordinated a national effort to reach out to employees from all operating companies across the country to join the FedEx WalkAmerica team. Assisted by the leadership of dozens of FedEx managers, the FedEx team has grown to over 5,000 members and raised an impressive $1.1 million in 2004.

Personal stories of how our mission has touched their lives are shared by FedEx employees to inspire and motive team members. But these stories also help to spread March of Dimes health education messages to those who might otherwise not hear. FedEx’s dedication to helping us educate the population about the threats posed by premature birth spurred them to become an inaugural national sponsor of our Prematurity Campaign launched in 2003. And this year, FedEx Corporation recognized and rewarded the efforts of thousands of FedEx WalkAmerica team members by becoming a national sponsor of WalkAmerica for the next three years.

Today, two top FedEx executives provide leadership and guidance to the March of Dimes by sitting on our National Board of Trustees and Presidential Advisory Board. The FedEx team is poised to raise $2 million dollars through their participation in WalkAmerica. FedEx further assists our organization with generous donations of in-kind services that allow us to spread our life-saving message to increasing numbers of American families. The support we receive from FedEx Corporation and their employees positively affects every aspect of our organization. Together, we are striving toward our common goal “Safe, on time deliveries.”