Doug was the first to join FedEx as a pilot many years ago. His three daughters and son-in-law later became FedEx team members.
 
“FedEx means a great deal to my family,” said Brittany. “My sisters and I always loved watching my dad’s planes take off.”
 
Sure, being a longtime FedEx pilot is rewarding. But for Doug, the “hiring of his daughters” was “the pinnacle” of his career.
 
For Patrick, having “someone you can trust to help with anything at any time” is a big benefit. “We feed off each other’s experiences to help us continue to grow and develop to get better daily.”
 
They all have a history at FedEx, but they’re also focused on what’s next. “The company’s dedication to innovation and cutting-edge technology fuels my excitement for the future,” said Kristen. “I love being part of an organization that continually evolves to meet the challenges of tomorrow.”

Shawn suffers from a severe medical condition that requires frequent trips to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis. He and his family often stay at FedExFamilyHouse.
 
As part of his treatment, Shawn receives medically prescribed food. FedEx Ground service provider driver Adam Anderson delivers this important package every month. Over time, Shawn has grown to love all things FedEx. His mom even called the FedEx customer service department to ask if he could see inside a service provider’s delivery vehicle.

“We were happy to oblige,” said FedEx Ground senior manager Justin Ottinger. Justin and his staff put together a special package for Shawn containing FedEx-branded items.
 
Shawn’s mother contacted a local news station to cover the moment of the delivery. Cameras were rolling when a grinning Shawn answered the door. Adam invited Shawn into the van to look around and let him sign for his own package. “He immediately put on the FedEx Ground baseball cap,” said Justin.

A non-profit organization reached out to the FedEx retail operations team in Mexico with a request. They wanted to deliver a wheelchair to a child with physical challenges. But the boy and his family lived three hours away from the closest FedEx retail location in Oaxaca. They weren’t able to pick it up and transport it home.
 
That’s when FedEx Express service agent Gabriel Cruz stepped in. He volunteered his personal time and money to secure a truck to move the wheelchair. Gabriel delivered more than the wheelchair that day—he gave the child the gift of independence.

Shawn Lauritsen and his coworkers spent hours on a FedEx community service project. They built nature observation decks, cleared brush, and pulled invasive weeds. One day, Shawn noticed two residents from a nearby apartment complex struggling to unload a moving truck.
 
“It was a father-daughter team,” he explained. “The father was 77 years old and was helping his daughter Mary, who had moved to Milwaukee after undergoing 14 surgeries, most recently at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.”

Shawn mobilized more than a dozen FedEx team members, all wearing purple FedEx Cares t-shirts. Within 90 minutes, the team had carried every item from the 26-foot moving truck into Mary’s apartment.
 
Mary sent a note and a plate of brownies and cookies to the local FedEx facility. The note called Shawn’s group the “purple team” and the “miracle crew.” Mary also wrote, “Your help unloading my moving truck helped my father and me in so many ways. It boosted us morally, spiritually, and physically. With all the things going on in the world currently, you gave me the best homecoming to Milwaukee possible.”

When Trevorn was eight years old, one of his classmates made a catapult. It fired a pencil that struck Trevorn squarely in the eye.

After two emergency surgeries, Trevorn’s vision was still severely damaged. When he returned to school in Jamaica, he was restricted from participating in many activities. His grades suffered terribly.
 
One day, Trevorn’s mother was on her way to Kingston to sell fruits and vegetables at the market. Norton Downy saw her and gave her a lift. That ride changed her son’s life.

Norton is a FedEx operations manager in Kingston who looks out for his friends and neighbors. Trevorn’s mother told Norton about his worsening condition, and how she couldn’t afford to purchase glasses.

Norton recalled seeing work emails about an upcoming visit by the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital. It’s a mobile hospital that provides vision-saving surgeries to patients and training to local doctors. The procedures are done free of charge by volunteer surgeons and nurses. FedEx donated the plane, and also provides volunteer pilots, maintenance, and donations.

It seemed like the perfect solution. But there was a problem with Norton’s plan. Doctors in Kingston had already selected all the patients. Norton didn’t give up. He became a relentless advocate, contacting Orbis personnel, driving Trevorn to be evaluated, and waiting during the surgery.

Trevorn’s laser surgery was a complete success, and he returned to school three days later. Trevorn talks about how comfortable the Orbis staff made him feel, and he wants to work for FedEx when he’s older!

Orbis staff and volunteers treated more than 70 people during their stop in Jamaica. Every single one of them has their own story. But they have one thing in common: Their lives were changed through the kindness of strangers.