ALPA's Communications Department provides information and support for news media inquiries. An ALPA communications representative can be reached in the Herndon, Va. office at (703) 481-4440.

News Release

Release #02.111
December 17, 2002

Annual Pilots For Kids Program Brings Gifts and Christmas Meals to Hope House

MEMPHIS, TN – During the Christmas season, FedEx pilots deliver millions of important packages wrapped with love by people around the world. But none are more important, or make a bigger impact, than the ones delivered personally by FedEx pilots to the children of Hope House.

Once again this year, on Wednesday, December 18, at 11 a.m., FedEx pilots will bring food baskets and gifts to Hope House, a Memphis day care center devoted to children who have been affected by, or infected with HIV/AIDS.

Through the Pilots for Kids program, FedEx pilots help more than 20 families and 30 children celebrate Christmas. As part of the annual holiday tradition, FedEx pilots contribute food, gifts, clothing, and money in support of children and families in need.

"This is a great opportunity for our pilots to reach out to the community and touch the lives of children and families who are so much less fortunate than we are," said Capt. Dave Webb, chairman of the Fedex Master Executive Council, a unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA). "It is a very humbling experience, and reminds us what the true spirit of this holiday season is."

Pilots for Kids is an international, nonprofit program formed in 1983 under the helm of an Airborne Express pilot to provide toys to hospitalized children during the holidays. Today, the program includes airline crewmembers, corporate, military, and private pilots as well as aviation enthusiasts from across the country who visit thousands of children in shelters, orphanages, halfway houses, day-care centers, and hospitals year-round.

Besides toys, members also donate clothing, wheelchairs, hospital beds, special equipment and meals to meet a variety of children’s needs.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s oldest and largest pilot union, representing 66,000 pilots at 43 airlines in the U.S. and Canada, including over 4,000 Federal Express pilots. Visit the ALPA Web site at http://www.alpa.org.

####

ALPA CONTACT: Brad Mahoney, (901) 842-2215