From Memphis to Pittsburgh, FedEx interns create positive change and impact
On July 16, FedEx Cares teamed up with the United Service Organizations (USO) and University of Memphis Tigers football athletes to pack over 10,000 hygiene kits. More than 100 Memphis interns joined forces with team members and management, filling toiletry bags with essential items. Five Tigers athletes, some with military family ties, also pitched in as part of our FedEx NIL contribution. These kits, packed with everyday essentials, were shipped to service members stationed in Eastern Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
The event at FedEx Forum was kicked off by Jenny Robertson (FedEx SVP of Marketing and Communications), Joy Norton (Memphis Grizzlies VP of Finance), Ann Jarvis (Executive Director of USO Fort Campbell/Nashville), and Tigers players Elijiah Herring, Jordan Greer, Jaylen Nichols, Mario Anderson, and Seth Henigan. This 9th annual FedEx Cares/Intern event in Memphis received strong media coverage, including WMC-TV, Daily Memphian, Memphis Commercial Appeal, and WATN-TV. Intern Rachel Parkison shared, “This event was a fantastic opportunity to see FedEx’s dedication to giving back. It was so rewarding to get plugged in as a group and be involved in something bigger than ourselves.” Gavin McKay added, “Having the opportunity to do meaningful work in the community with USO and FedEx Cares was an amazing experience. I enjoyed learning more about the other interns and Memphis football players that volunteered in giving back.”
In Pittsburgh, FedEx Cares teamed up with Feed the Children and Light of Life Rescue Mission to pack 144 backpacks for foster children. 40 FedEx interns, joined by Angela Wheland (FedEx VP of Communications) and Ryan Kelly (FedEx VP of Marketing), filled backpacks with school supplies, hygiene items, and food. They also toured the Light of Life Rescue Mission facility and completed additional kitting and counting of care kits. This event capped off a week where over 300 FedEx summer interns volunteered in-person or virtually in more than 10 activities. Intern Megan Suess reflected, “It feels great to be a part of something that is making a positive impact in the communities we service. This is my third time co-oping for FedEx and part of why I’ve kept coming back is because of the amazing workplace culture and core values that FedEx has.”
FedEx Cares also hosted virtual events, including sign-language classes, designing cards for the LGBTQ+ community, recording audiobooks for hospitalized children, and making puzzles on environment-related topics. Intern Ashley Settle shared, “I attended ‘Design fact cards on Rainbow Revolutionaries’ and ‘sign happy birthday’ volunteering sessions. Both events were virtual, but very informative about both the LGBTQ+ and deaf communities. My favorite was the ‘sign happy birthday’ volunteering event because I learned a lot about the deaf community that I didn’t know before. Both events were run by Goodera and were very energetic and engaging. I would volunteer with them again!”
Through these fun and heartfelt initiatives, FedEx Cares continues to show the power of community and the impact of collective efforts. The enthusiasm and dedication of the interns and volunteers truly highlight the spirit of giving back and making a positive impact. FedEx’s interns are truly exceptional, making a significant difference in their communities and embodying the company’s commitment to service and excellence.