COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 25, 2010) — The associates of Averitt Express recently presented St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with a donation of $350,000 during a formal event held at the hospital in Memphis, Tenn.
The monetary gift, which was collected entirely from Averitt associate contributions during 2009, marks the 17th annual donation from “Averitt Cares for Kids” to St. Jude.
Averitt Cares for Kids was one of the first associate-supported charities of its kind when it was launched in 1986. It is 100 percent funded by voluntary contributions from Averitt associates and has made a difference in the lives of thousands of children. Since its creation, Averitt Cares for Kids has donated more than $5 million to charities, including St. Jude.
Thanks in part to the financial support of donors and organizations like Averitt Cares for Kids, physicians and scientists at St. Jude have pioneered treatments that have helped push the overall survival rates for childhood cancers from less than 20 percent when the hospital opened in 1962 to 80 percent today.
In September 2007, Averitt Cares for Kids completed a $1.5 million endowment to help fund the initial construction of the St. Jude Leukemia and Lymphoma Clinic, through which the majority of St. Jude patients are treated. Averitt associates' most recent contribution will support the groundbreaking research and lifesaving care at St. Jude, including the Leukemia and Lymphoma Clinic.
“Averitt associates have been making a difference in the lives of so many children and their families at St. Jude for nearly twenty years now,” said John D. Remington, senior vice president of Corporate Alliances at ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude. “This year was no different, as their $350,000 gift will further expand the first class patient care and groundbreaking research that takes place here each day. All of us at St. Jude are deeply grateful for the ongoing generosity and unwavering support of Averitt Cares for Kids.”
According to Gary D. Sasser, Averitt’s president and CEO, the associates of Averitt take a tremendous amount of pride in their relationship with St. Jude.
“Averitt associates have always been focused on giving back to our communities, and we believe there’s no better way for us to do that than through our support of St. Jude,” Sasser stated. “In fact, during these difficult economic times when many are giving less or not at all to charitable organizations, participation in Averitt Cares for Kids has been increasing! That certainly speaks volumes about the generous character of the Averitt team.”
More information about Averitt Cares for Kids can be found on Averitt’s website athttp://www.averittexpress.com/averittcares.
