Atlanta, April 20, 2015 -- A mini-documentary highlighting how its Relief Link program has fostered more efficient aid distribution at two African refugee camps earned The UPS Foundation, the philanthropic arm of UPS (NYSE: UPS), a win in the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship's (BCCCC) "Corporate Citizenship Film Festival." The annual festival, held as part of the International Corporate Citizenship Conference April 19-21 in Austin, Texas, showcases the good works of companies in areas such as healthcare access, volunteerism, community involvement, sustainable practices and youth movement.
In its three-minute award winning video, The UPS Foundation detailed its partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to develop a next-generation system for tracking food and non-food ration distributions at refugee camps in Ethiopia (Dollo Ado) and Mauritania (Mbera). UPS's Relief Link leverages UPS Trackpad technology to provide full visibility into the supply chain journey of urgently-needed items through the critical "last mile" of delivery to refugees. As a result, UNHCR can speed distribution time, provide verifiable receipt of vital provisions, ensure equitable distribution of critical relief supplies and minimize theft.
"It's hard to imagine the level of chaos that can occur in the aftermath of a crisis and the importance of the supply chain in getting critically needed items into the hands of those most impacted," said Eduardo Martinez, president of The UPS Foundation. "Our video brings to life how technology can help overcome the unique distribution challenges in crisis-affected areas and positively impact the lives of refugees worldwide. We are honored to be named a winner in this prestigious program and participate alongside other respected companies that share our commitment to philanthropy."
The UPS Foundation was one of 58 organizations to submit a video for consideration as part of the BCCCC's annual film festival. Fans were encouraged to vote for their favorite videos. After more than 40,000 votes were cast, The UPS Foundation's Relief Link video was one of 10 selected for review by a panel of independent judges and tied for the top video award spot.
To learn more about the BCCCC's annual "Corporate Citizenship Film Festival," visit http://ccc.bc.edu/index.cfm?pageId=2244.
For more information about the UPS Relief Link program, as well as other The UPS Foundation initiatives, please visit UPS.com/Foundation.
About The UPS Foundation
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight; the facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Since its founding in 1907, UPS has built a legacy as a caring and responsible corporate citizen, supporting programs that provide long-term solutions to community needs. Founded in 1951, The UPS Foundation is responsible for facilitating community involvement to local, national, and global communities. In 2014, UPS and its employees, active and retired, invested more than $104 million in charitable giving around the world. The UPS Foundation can be found on the web at UPS.com/Foundation. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.
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Kristen Petrella
UPS Public Relations
404-828-4182
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Published Apr 21, 2015 11am EDT / 8am PDT / 4pm BST / 5pm CEST