FedEx unveils charity plan

Includes more donated shipping

FedEx Corp. on Wednesday rolled out a stronger charitable giving program, FedEx Cares, that will invest $200 million in more than 200 communities over five years.

The Memphis-based delivery giant increased its corporate giving budget by 35 percent to meet the goal during the fiscal year that began July 1, said Patrick Fitzgerald, senior vice president, FedEx Integrated Marketing Communications.

FedEx off icials said $50 million of the commitment would be in donated shipping and logistics services for disaster relief efforts and special transportation.

Other focus areas are sustainable transportation, career paths for young adults in underserved populations, road safety and global entrepreneurship. The program r uns from 2016 through 2020. “FedEx and our team members have a long history of supporting the communities where we live and work,” Fitzgerald said.

“This new strategy builds on that heritage and takes it to the next level by focusing on ways we can use our operational strength and business expertise to address social challenges.”

The launch of FedEx Cares coincided with Fitzgerald’s participation in a news conference and panel discussion on corporate philanthropy. In 2015, more than 17,000 FedEx team members took part in FedEx Cares Week, a period dedicated to service projects in the U.S. and regions FedEx serves.