FedEx and NFWF Target Urban Restoration

Projects Support Volunteer Action in Nine Cities

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and FedEx have announced nine grant awards that will enable urban residents across the country to take action on local environmental challenges.
The Five Star Restoration Program grants will fund a range of projects, from restoring ocean-side bluffs in Golden Gate National Park to re-planting neglected urban forests in Philadelphia. Additional project locations include Boston, Indianapolis, Memphis, Dallas, Pittsburgh, Oakland, and the greater Los Angeles area.

The Five Star Restoration Program is a partnership among NFWF, National Association of Counties, the Wildlife Habitat Council and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, supported by additional contributions from private partners like FedEx. Since 1999, Five Star has supported 515 projects with more than $4.25 million in federal funds, $1.7 million in private and corporate contributions and $17.5 million in matching funds at the local level.

“The hallmark of our Five Star Restoration Program is building long-term community partnerships,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director of NFWF. “By actively participating in these projects and encouraging others to join them, FedEx and its team members around the nation are leading the way to protect and restore our urban spaces.”

“Through our program EarthSmart Outreach, FedEx and its team members can contribute to their communities in environmentally-focused ways,” said Mitch Jackson, vice president of environmental affairs and sustainability at FedEx. “Working with NFWF, we are able to find, fund and volunteer for projects important to our local communities, and where we can help make our communities cleaner and healthier.” In many cases, the grants support not only restoration activities but also education, so that participants can learn about the impact of their actions on wetlands, carbon emissions, water quality and wildlife habitats.

The FedEx-sponsored Five Star Restoration Program grants for 2010-20011 were awarded to:

* Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, San Francisco, for Presidio Coastal Bluffs restoration
* Temple University, Philadelphia, for tree-planting in Fairmount Park and education
* Student Conservation Association in Boston for plant and wildlife restoration in the Charles River watershed
* Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc., for restoration, education and planting projects in the Pogue’s Run watershed
* Wolf River Conservancy, Memphis, for restoration on two urban properties involving the Memphis City Schools
* Trinity Commons Foundation, Dallas, for streamside stabilization and restoration along the Trinity River
* Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, for a rain garden project to reduce storm water overflow and combined sewage overflow
* Sausal Creek Eco-Stewards in Oakland, California, for field investigations and classroom projects
* Bolsa Chica Conservancy, Huntington Beach, California, for habitat restoration and wetlands science education

Throughout the summer of 2010, FedEx collaborated with NFWF to transport hundreds of loggerhead sea turtle nests containing over 25,000 movement- and temperature-sensitive eggs to Florida’s Atlantic Coast, protecting the hatchlings from potential impacts of the oil spill in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

About FedEx EarthSmart Outreach: FedEx recently launched EarthSmart Outreach, environmental philanthropy and volunteer programs strategically aligned with business goals. Through a variety of global and local projects, FedEx is advancing its commitment to connect the world in responsible and resourceful ways. The goal is to make communities cleaner, healthier and more efficient by encouraging sustainable transportation, green urban spaces and resilient ecosystems. All EarthSmart Outreach projects provide significant environmental and community benefits while leveraging the skills and expertise of FedEx team members.

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 $35 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 280,000 team members 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 news.fedex.com

About National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF): Established by Congress in 1984, NFWF is the nation’s leader in directing federal agency dollars to protect wildlife and natural resources while raising private capital to leverage those investments. In 25 years, NFWF has funded 3,700 organizations and leveraged $490 million in federal funds into $1.6 billion for conservation. The Foundation creates public-private partnerships that bring together diverse stakeholders—from industry to Congress and local leaders—to accomplish positive outcomes.