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Gifts In Kind International, UPS Team Up To Send Relief Flight To China

Gifts In Kind International, UPS Team Up To Send Relief Flight To China

Published 05-30-08

Submitted by UPS

ALEXANDRIA,VA.,- May 30, 2008 - Gifts In Kind International and UPS have teamed up with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and several corporate donors to send a fully loaded UPS relief plane to the areas of China affected by the recent earthquake and its aftershocks. The relief plane from the United States contains more than 10,000 tents, 1,100 cots and 225 cases of surgical gloves. It is expected to arrive in Chengdu on Sunday, June 1 (Chengdu time).

"We are grateful to UPS for shipping these urgently needed products to earthquake victims and to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China for helping to coordinate the distribution within the affected area," said Gifts In Kind International President and CEO Richard Wong. "Our corporate partners that provided these items and our nonprofit partners, including Feed the Children, have made this effort possible. But this is just the first step in getting victims back on their feet. Gifts In Kind will continue to work with the Chinese Embassy and our many partners to provide the long-term assistance needed to restore lives."

Gifts In Kind International has partnered with the Chinese Embassy to coordinate the in-kind relief efforts for the United States. Almost 69,000 people were killed in the quake and its aftershocks, and many others are still missing. Many survivors have been left homeless.

"Working closely with Gifts In Kind International and the Chinese Embassy, we are eager to bring these critical supplies to the people of Chengdu," said Lisa Hamilton, president, The UPS Foundation. "This delivery is among the most important UPS will make this year."

Individual, Corporate Donations Needed for Tent Drive
The Chinese government has estimated that millions of tents are currently needed to help those who have been left homeless by the earthquake. China will provide two million tents to earthquake victims, but an additional one million tents is desperately needed. Gifts In Kind International has organized a tent drive for both corporate and individual donors. A website (http://www.giftsinkind.org/chinarelief/) allows individuals to 1) buy a new tent and ship it to a designated Gifts In Kind warehouse or 2) donate money to help supply these tents.

Medicine, medical equipment, outdoor equipment, blankets, sleeping bags, footwear and apparel also now top the critical needs identified by the Chinese government.
For more information about the relief efforts, please contact Melissa Trumpower at mltrumpower@giftsinkind.org or (703) 299-7547 (EST). For UPS-related information, please contact Rebecca Treacy-Lenda at (404) 828-8396 or rtreacylenda@ups.com. Donations can be made at http://www.giftsinkind.org/chinarelief/.

ABOUT GIFTS IN KIND INTERNATIONAL
Gifts In Kind International (www.giftsinkind.org) - ranked by Forbes Magazine and Charity Navigator as one of the nation's best-managed charities-works to enhance, empower and restore communities in need by generating and distributing corporate product donations through its network of more than 120,000 pre-qualified nonprofit organizations; those organizations improve the lives of more than 13 million people around the world each year.

ABOUT THE UPS FOUNDATION
Founded in 1951 and based in Atlanta, Ga., The UPS Foundation's major areas of focus include community safety, nonprofit effectiveness, economic and global literacy, environmental sustainability and diversity. The UPS Foundation pursues these initiatives by identifying specific projects where its support can help produce a measurable social impact. In 2007, The UPS Foundation donated more than $46 million to charitable organizations worldwide. Visit community.ups.com for more information about UPS's community involvement.

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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.

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