United Way Of America Recognizes Corporate Involvement, Names UPS As A Summit Award Winner

United Way of America
Thursday, 17 May 2001

ALEXANDRIA, VA.—May 17, 2001—United Way of America today recognized United Parcel Service (UPS) as one of three Spirit of America Summit Award winners. UPS was commended for its outstanding employee campaign, major gifts, volunteer programs and commitment to United Way's efforts to focus resources on the most important needs in communities across the country.

"UPS has a long tradition of supporting United Way and this award is a tribute to that unwavering commitment," said Ellie Ferdon, United Way of America Board Chair. "Thanks to the generous support of the entire UPS family, United Ways across the country are better able to serve as community solutions providers – building partnerships, forging consensus and maximizing resources to help people in need. On behalf of United Way, I'd like to extend our deep appreciation for all that UPS does to help United Way make a positive impact in communities nationwide."

UPS employees volunteered their time across a range of activities across the country through their corporate Neighbor-to-Neighbor program and United Way's Day of Caring.

UPS provides funding to United Way through corporate support and employee contributions. The employee contributions of $38.1 million combined with UPS's corporate contribution of $9.3 million helped the company become the number one corporate giver to United Way last year with a total campaign contribution of $47.4 million. United Way invests these donations into projects which help improve the overall quality of communities where UPS employees live and work.

"We are delighted to be recognized by United Way," said UPS Chairman and CEO Jim Kelly. "We are also pleased by the commitment and hard work our employees continue to show in their community service endeavors."

In addition to UPS, FedEx Express and U.S. law firm Holland & Knight also received 2000 Summit awards. United Way presented Summit Awards to companies that have achieved distinction in specific categories for activities above and beyond the ordinary. Nationwide received the overall Spirit of America award.

Spirit of America and Summit Award winners are judged on detailed criteria by a panel of past winners and United Way National Corporate Leadership members who have not entered the competition, United Way labor liaisons and individual United Way organizations.

United Way of America's National Corporate Leadership (NCL) program works with more than 130 major corporations and 1,400 United Way organizations to strengthen corporate involvement in communities. Typical NCL companies have more than 10,000 employees and annual corporate and employee contributions of more than $1 million. NCL companies contribute more than $800 million to United Ways to help bring communities together to focus resources and provide solutions for the most important needs in the community.

United Way of America is the national service and training center for the 1,400 member strong United Way system. Its role is to equip United Ways – as well as their corporate and philanthropic partners – with the tools that they need to make a measurable impact in the communities they serve. United Way of America invests in the programs and services that strengthen the ability of local United Ways to focus resources and provide solutions for the most important needs in communities nationwide.

For more information, or to contact United Way of America, see their website at: www.unitedway.org