Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 22, 2005
Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Participate
in National Campaign
Christmas Tree Farms and FedEx Deliver Christmas Spirit
to Troop Families
HARRISBURG, PA- The Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association (PCTGA) is participating in the Trees for Troops Campaign sponsored by the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, the National Christmas Tree Association, FedEx Corp. (NYSE:FDX) and New Holland. The Trees for Troops program will collect and deliver more than 3,500 real Christmas trees to families at five military bases across America. Pennsylvania Christmas tree growers will be dropping off trees at Yenser’s Tree Farm in Lehighton, Carbon County, to be picked up between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. by FedEx on Wednesday, November 30th.
The program began in Columbus, Ohio, when FedEx picked up about 200 trees from the Ohio Christmas Tree Association’s “Operation Evergreen.” FedEx provided international transport to Qatar from FedEx Express’s Indianapolis Hub.
“During a time of year when friends and family gather with loved ones, we must also remember the service men and women stationed overseas this holiday season,” said Douglas G. Duncan, president and chief executive officer, FedEx Freight. “With this small gesture, we want to extend a special thank you to our brave troops and their families.”
Pennsylvania is a part of the east coast route that is taking trees from New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina to Fort Bragg in North Carolina. A total of more than 200 trees are being donated from Pennsylvania Christmas tree farms. The participating Pennsylvania growers are Yenser’s Tree Farm in Lehighton; Abraczinskas Nurseries, Inc. in Catawissa; Pinecrest Tree Farms in New Ringgold; Christmas Tree Hill in Lehighton; Frey Farms in Lehighton; Crystal Spring Tree Farm in Lehighton; Evergreen Acres Tree Farm in Auburn; and Musser Forests, Inc. in Indiana County.
The Trees for Troops program will collect and deliver freshly harvested trees to military bases in the United States along three regional routes (Western, Central, and Eastern) between November 28 and December 9. FedEx Freight will provide the pickup-and-delivery service for the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, the philanthropic branch of the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA).
About PCTGA
The Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association (PCTGA), with over 400 members, works to promote and develop a community of interest among growers of Christmas trees in Pennsylvania and adjoining states, as well as to raise public awareness about Christmas trees. PCTGA is an active participant in PA-Preferred, a program promoting Pennsylvania agriculture. To learn more about PA Preferred and products, visit www.papreferred.com. PCTGA belongs to the National Christmas Tree Growers Association (NCTA), an association with more than 5,100 professionals. To find a Christmas tree grower near you, and for more information from the Pennsylvania Christmas tree authority, visit www.christmastrees.org.
About FedEx Corp.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $30 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brands. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 250,000 employees and contractors to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit www.fedex.com.
About the Christmas Spirit Foundation
The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation – based on Chesterfield, MO, is a new not-for-profit foundation that advances the Christmas spirit for children, families and the environment. Trees for Troops is just one of its projects. For more details, go to www.ChristmasSpiritFoundation.org.
About the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA)
NCTA is the professional organization representing nearly 5,000 farms and retailers engaged in growing and selling Real Christmas Trees to nearly 30 million consumers. Based in Chesterfield, MO, NCTA’s mission is to promote the use of Real Christmas Trees and support the industry that provides them. For more information, go to www.realchristmastrees.org.
MEDIA CONTACT: Bethany Dennis, 717.238.9765, communications@christmastree.org