FedEx : Trees for Troops Named 2017 Spirit of Hope Award Recipient

Through its relationship with FedEx, the Program Has Provided Nearly 200,000 Real Christmas Trees

October 26, 2017

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Trees for Troops, a program that provides free, farm-grown Christmas trees to members of all branches of the United States military and their families, was honored today as a recipient of the 2017 Spirit of Hope Award in a ceremony at the Pentagon.

The Spirit of Hope Award, established in 1997, is named for comedian and actor Bob Hope and recognizes current and former military members, civilians and organizations that epitomize his values of patriotism, loyalty, freedom and dedication. Captain Sean Carroll, Chief, Office of External Outreach & Heritage, Governmental and Public Affairs Directorate, U.S. Coast Guard, presided over the ceremony, which recognized honorees associated with all military branches, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Each branch nominates potential honorees. Trees for Troops was nominated by the Coast Guard Community Services Command. Trees for Troops Chairman Dick Darling and Executive Director Ann O'Connor, along with FedEx Freight Senior Vice President of Human Resources Jeffery Greer, accepted the award on behalf of the program.

Trees for Troops is a joint program between the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, the charitable branch of the National Christmas Tree Association, and FedEx. Since the program was established in 2005, FedEx has delivered more than 191,000 real Christmas trees to troops and military families at more than 60 military bases in the U.S. and overseas. In this, its 13 year, the Trees for Troops program will surpass the 200,000 tree mark and expects to deliver at least 17,000 trees.

'To receive a real Christmas tree while overseas is a tremendous experience because it boosts your morale while you're taking care of the nation's business,' says Marvin Hill, Project Management Advisor for FedEx Freight and a 35-year U.S. Army Veteran. 'At the same time, trees are also delivered to military families back home, reassuring service members that their families are also being taken care of during the most wonderful time of the year. FedEx is proud to leverage our network in this way to share the holidays with thousands of our heroes. '

Visit www.TreesforTroops.org to make a monetary donation, or visit a participating tree farm location during the weekend of December 1-3, 2017, to purchase a real tree to be delivered by FedEx to a military base the following week. The 2017 Trees for Troops program is sponsored by FedEx, the Christmas Tree Promotion Board, Ste. Michelle Winery and JM Family Enterprises.