10.17.2005 ET

(CSRwire) ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 17, 2005--In neighborhoods and villages across the globe this week, more than 20,000 UPS (NYSE: UPS) employees in 45 countries will donate approximately 100,000 hours of service to their local communities.

As part of the third annual UPS Global Volunteer Week, Oct. 15-22, UPS employees will donate their time and talents to help local communities by taking on such tasks as repairing schools and visiting hospitals to assisting food banks and refurbishing orphanages. The effort will extend from Asia and Latin America to the United States and Europe.

"We are a vital part of every community, every day," said UPS Chairman and CEO Mike Eskew, who will help refurbish a children's hospital in China. "We know how deep the needs run in every one of our communities and we believe it's important to roll up our sleeves to help where we can."

UPS's Global Volunteer Week is an extension of the company's long-standing commitment to volunteerism and actually marks the culmination of volunteer work performed by employees all year long through UPS's global volunteer program, Neighbor to Neighbor.

Since 2003, the seven-day community service initiative has grown from roughly 1,000 volunteers in 2003 to an expected 20,000 participating employees worldwide this year. Initially an international program, this year's efforts will be greatly expanded due to the increased participation of UPS's U.S. workforce.

"The idea of giving back through Global Volunteer Week has been embraced thoroughly by our employees on every level, around the world," said David Abney, president of UPS International, who will work at an orphanage in Japan. "We're expecting participation to nearly triple from last year to more than 100,000 volunteer hours."

Local UPS employees choose their own projects in conjunction with Global Volunteer Week. The program this year will include volunteer efforts such as:

-- More than 600 hours cleaning, painting and landscaping public
schools throughout India.

-- Nearly 2,000 hours renovating schools and shelters in Germany.

-- An estimated 20,000 hours aimed at eliminating hunger along
every step in the food chain from stocking shelves in food
banks to preparing and serving food at soup kitchens in
Louisville, Kentucky.

-- And more than 200 hours sorting food for food banks across
Canada.

Founded in 1951 and based in Atlanta, Ga., The UPS Foundation identifies specific areas where its support will clearly impact social issues. The UPS Foundation's major initiatives currently include programs that support increased global volunteerism, literacy and hunger relief. In 2004, The UPS Foundation donated more than $39.9 million to charitable organizations worldwide. Visit community.ups.com for more information about UPS's community involvement.

Copyright Business Wire 2005

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