'Purple Book Express' delivers books and love

MANILA, Philippines - Employees of FedEx Express, the world’s largest express transportation company, donated and delivered over 700 books and reference materials to children at FedEx-Gawad Kalinga Sibol Schools in the Philippines, part of the FedEx Cares Week global initiative aimed at improving communities that FedEx serves.

Donations were delivered to four FedEx-GK Sibol schools in Parañaque and Cebu during the week by a FedEx truck dressed as the “Purple Book Express,” a mobile activity center equipped with toys, art supplies and entertainment. During the “Purple Book Express” stop at each beneficiary school, FedEx volunteers read and played with the children and

presented the donated books and reference materials to the school libraries for the children and teachers. Four more FedEx-GK Sibol schools in Zambales, Negros Occidental, Sultan Kudarat, and Bukidnon will receive similar donations from FedEx over the next few weeks. More than 300 children are poised to benefit from this program.

“The Purple Book Express will deliver more than just books, but an opportunity to enhance the quality of education for the children in our country. We are proud of those employees who went above and beyond the call of duty to take part in efforts that improve lives of those around us,” said Samuel David, country manager of FedEx Philippines. Now in its second year in Asia Pacifi c, FedEx Cares Week is a global initiative to celebrate the spirit of volunteerism, collaboration and community. This year, FedEx employee volunteers in 11 markets – including Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – participated in 32 community programs, ranging from book drives for underprivileged children to evacuation training in mountainous regions.

Globally, more than 3,000 FedEx employees took part in FedEx Cares Week volunteer programs.

“We will continue building on a culture of charitable giving and volunteerism that has been the hallmark of our company for decades,” David added.

Every year, FedEx supports a wide variety of community causes in the areas of education, disaster relief, child pedestrian safety, and health and human services.