We’re delivering thanks to some of our amazing team members who have gone above and beyond to help their neighbors in times of need.
People First Philosophy | Lifesaving Actions | Going the Extra Mile
People First Philosophy
Jorge Vasquez – Industry, California
One veteran honors another
FedEx Ground senior operations administrator Jorge Vasquez served eight years in the U.S. Navy, so it’s no surprise that he stepped in to find the proper destination for a World War II-designated copper grave plaque that came through the hub.
“Every item is important, but something like that makes you stop and think,” Jorge says. He picked up the plaque and began to research the name in raised letters. “I contacted the Department of Veterans Affairs,” he explains. “Eventually, I learned the gentleman was from a small mining town in Arizona. As a young man, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served as a fighter pilot during World War II in the Pacific.”
Jorge contacted the town’s cemetery, confirmed the gravesite and repacked and shipped the plaque to them for placement. During the week-long process, Jorge was reminded of the sacrifice soldiers make when they serve. “The WWII plaque was meaningful for me personally,” says Jorge. “It was about giving a veteran the recognition he deserved for the time he served his country.”
Traveling chefs serve Hurricane Harvey relief
FedEx Express courier Byron Boquet also happens to be a chef, a skill he put to use after Hurricane Harvey. Byron’s friend and fellow chef, Bob Getchell, asked if he would be willing to accompany him to Texas to prepare food for victims of Hurricane Harvey. Byron was granted the time off, and the two-man cooking crew loaded up more than 10,000 pounds of meat for the drive to Houston’s NRG stadium.
Working alongside the American Red Cross, Byron helped serve more than 50,000 people in two weeks, and his selfless efforts didn’t end there. The two then headed to hard-hit Beaumont, Texas, where they served meals to residents and emergency personnel. They also set up food deliveries to law enforcement personnel at emergency response mobile units.
Overall, Byron and Bob helped serve more than 40,000 pounds of food to about 55,000 people in the Houston and Beaumont areas during the early weeks of the Harvey relief effort.
Operation Barbecue for Hurricane Irma relief
When FedEx Express Aviation Maintenance Technician Scott Guy heard that the Florida Keys had been devastated by Hurricane Irma, he wanted to help.
Knowing that residents were attempting to salvage their homes in conditions with almost no food, no drinkable water and no necessary supplies, Scott made an official request for FedEx to support Operation Barbecue Relief and fly in meals for residents and responders in the Florida Keys. His company, he reasoned, was in a unique position to support the effort because it was still nearly impossible to reach the Keys by road.
Scott’s idea was approved and implemented using FedEx Caravan feeder aircraft operating two flights a day from Fort Myers to Marathon Key. With the support of Operations Managers Julian Cazanas and Scott Zegarelli and their teams, Scott’s efforts with Operation Barbecue Relief airlifted close to 40,000 meals to the disaster-stricken area.
Lifesaving Actions
Ed Martinez, Daniel Erickson & Stephen Rodriguez – Houston, TX
Houston Team Members Rescue Numerous Hurricane Victims
FedEx Express Ramp Operations Manager Ed Martinez and couriers Daniel Erickson and Stephen Rodriguez were three of the many Houston area FedEx team members who stepped up to serve others after Hurricane Harvey.
After losing his own home to the hurricane, Ed Martinez called his friends together to put a pontoon boat in the water and volunteer with local teams to rescue 19 families. During these rescue efforts, Ed also transported firefighters and paramedics to a paraplegic individual’s home to evacuate him safely.
For five days after Hurricane Harvey, Daniel Erickson assisted local firefighters in evacuating an estimated 300 people. Among those were several residents of a nursing home who would not have been able to evacuate the area of life-threatening flooding without help.
During the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Stephen Rodriguez also volunteered his time and his boat to help with rescue efforts. Sunday through Wednesday night, Stephen sometimes worked until the early hours of the morning helping trapped and stranded citizens. Over a four-day period, Stephen rescued 94 people from their homes.
For their heroic work during the Houston community’s time of need, these team members received well-deserved Humanitarian Awards.
Jazmin Hernandez – Chino, California
Injured motorcyclist receives quick, competent aid
Traffic came to a sudden halt as FedEx Ground Operations Manager Jazmin Hernandez was driving on a busy highway.
As she inched along, Jazmin discovered the reason for the abrupt slow down: a motorcyclist was pinned under his bike. Two bystanders were already on the scene when Jazmin pulled over to assist and called 9-1-1. As the two bystanders were attempting to help the injured man to stand, Jazmin intervened. She explained how important it was for the victim to remain undisturbed until he could be treated by medical professionals.
While they waited, Jazmin assessed the injured man’s condition and was able to make a full report to paramedics as soon they arrived.
Thanks to her quick thinking and first aid training, as well as her leadership skills, the victim received quick and thorough medical treatment. Jazmin received the FedEx Ground Humanitarian Award for assisting a stranger in a time of need.
Going the Extra Mile
Patricia Marcelline – Mississauga, Canada
Customer service rep hand delivers EpiPen for Kindergartener
While attempting to locate a shipment for a customer, FedEx Express Customer Service Representative Patricia Marcelline discovered the package contained an EpiPen.
The customer explained that her son would not be able to start kindergarten without it. When it became clear that the package wouldn’t arrive in time for the child’s first day of school, Patricia took matters into her own hands.
On the Saturday morning of Labor Day weekend, she drove 67 miles from her home to the shipper’s location. With the replacement EpiPen, she then drove another 26 miles to deliver the vital shipment to the customer. The grateful mother later said this of Patricia’s selfless act, “Patricia went above and beyond to help me get this package on time. I am now FedEx for life.”
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