ATLANTA, Georgia - The UPS Foundation, the charitable arm of United Parcel Service, has awarded nearly $3 million to high-impact organizations as part of its Region/District Grant Program.

The annual program encourages UPS employees around the world to offer funding recommendations based on the needs they see in their communities every day.

"Because our business operates in virtually every community across the country and in more than 200 countries and territories around the world, UPS employees are uniquely positioned to recognize the issues and organizations in need of support," said Evern Cooper, president of The UPS Foundation and vice president of UPS Corporate Relations. "Through the Region/District Grant Program, our employees can help address the challenges facing their communities."

Through the Region/District Grant Program, UPS provides annual funding at the local level for each of UPS's 10 domestic regions plus facilities in Asia, Europe, Latin America and Canada. Grants are awarded in amounts of up to $100,000.

Throughout the world, UPS employees serve on committees to identify community-based organizations, make site visits and recommend Region/District Grant funding. Grant recommendations are made at the regional level and are submitted for approval to The Foundation. Since its establishment in 1984, the Region/District Grant Program has awarded more than $45 million to charitable organizations. Organizations receiving grants this year include:

-- Children Today, Chester, United Kingdom - A $25,000 grant will help provide specially adapted medical equipment for disabled children not otherwise available through local health authorities or social service departments.
-- Inner Strength, Inc., Atlanta - A $100,000 grant will help purchase a van, computer equipment, furnishings and other office supplies for the organization's after school program.
-- Volunteers of America, Dakotas-Turning Point, Sioux Falls, S.D. - A $100,000 grant will fund renovations that will expand the youth center's educational and recreational facilities and also improve safety and access for the disabled.
-- Associacao Pequeno Ser de Amor, Sao Paulo, Brazil - A $25,000 grant will be used toward the purchase of a new house for a children's facility for this provider of childcare and educational services.
-- GuardiaCare Services, Inc., Louisville, Ky. - A $100,000 grant will help fund renovations to support expansion of their programs for senior citizens.

The UPS Foundation is committed to making a difference through focused funding programs in the areas of human welfare, education and volunteerism. Founded in 1951 and based in Atlanta, The UPS Foundation identifies specific areas where its support will clearly impact social problems. In addition to the Region/District Grant Program, The Foundation's major initiatives currently include programs that support hunger relief, family and workplace literacy and increased nationwide volunteerism.

United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS), the world's largest express carrier and package delivery company, operates in more than 200 countries and territories and employs more than 370,000 people worldwide. The company's commitment to its employees has been recognized by several notable organizations including Your Money magazine ("America's Best Part-Time Job") and Fortune magazine ("America's Best Companies for Minorities"). In 2001, UPS won the nation's only presidential award for corporate leadership, The Conference Board's Ron Brown Award for Corporate Citizenship, in recognition of its employee programs.

UPS

UPS

UPS is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including transporting packages and freight; facilitating international trade, and deploying advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves 10.6 million customers daily in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide.

For more information, please visit UPS.com or the company’s Sustainability website, ups.com/sustainability. View and subscribe to UPS Horizons, our sustainability newsletter, by visiting ups.com/sustainabilitynewsletter.

More from UPS