DHL, Kalitta teams join forces to provide 2 million meals in âRace To End Hungerâ
DHL Express and the 2024 âRace to End Hungerâ partners donated two million meals to Feeding America and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, bringing the programâs overall five-year total to 11 million meals.Ìę
With some 49 million people in the United States currently experiencing food insecurity, DHL Express, Kalitta Air and Kalitta Motorsports united their efforts in the âRace to End Hunger.â The initiative provides critical hunger relief for families in need, both during the upcoming holiday season and beyond. Ìę
For the past five years, DHL and its dedicated U.S. employees have been actively collaborating with local food pantries and the Feeding AmericaÂź network of local food banks, as part of their annual volunteering and charitable-giving campaign. This ongoing program supports families in need while aligning with DHLâs mission of âConnecting People. Improving Lives.âÌę
This year, DHL expanded its internal campaign, giving employees the option to also donate through its DHL online retail store purchases, with proceeds benefiting Feeding America. Combined with DHLâs corporate match of employee donations and its contribution to the âRace to End Hungerâ partner program with Kalitta, the companyâs total contribution reached 1.25 million meals. Ìę
The other 750,000 meals were generated by DHLâs National Hot Rod Association relationships. Two years ago, DHL supercharged its efforts by partnering with Kalitta Motorsports and Kalitta Air to fight food insecurity nationwide, through the âRace to End Hunger.â ÌęThis year, additional Kalitta partners joined the program, which generated even more meals. Over three years of the campaign, 2.75 million meals were donated to Feeding America and its network of food banks.Ìę
During the most-recent six NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series events, DHL, Kalitta Air, and Kalitta Motorsports, along with five new âdouble downâ partners â Applied Innovation, Dayco, Future Energy Solutions, Revchem Composites and Toyota â made a substantial impact. For every âwin lightâ achieved by Kalitta Motorsports drivers Doug Kalitta, J.R. Todd, and Shawn Langdon, which signified winning a round of racing, Kalitta Motorsports donated $1,000, matched by DHL, Kalitta Air and the group of new partners. As a result, each round win generated $4,000 or 40,000 meals.Ìę
The âRace to End Hungerâ participating companies donated above and beyond the funds generated on the race track allowing for the million-meal donation, and NHRA fan donations are also included in this total. This effort will help provide the equivalent of one million meals through the Feeding America network of partner food banks, including the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, located near In âN Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona, Calif., where this weekendâs In âN Out Burger 91°”Íű Finals take place.Ìę
âNo one should have to worry about where their next meal will come from, and we are committed to doing our part to help,â said Nemer Abohasen, VP and General Manager at DHL Express and Head of U.S. Social Responsibility. âIt has been deeply rewarding to collaborate with our long-time partners, Kalitta Air and Kalitta Motorsports, as well as our new partners this year, all of whom share our dedication to addressing the critical issue of food insecurity that affects millions across our country. Our âRace To End Hungerâ partners are all strong advocates Ìęof our mission, and the impact in the communities we live in continues to be significant.âÌę
Hunger affects people of all ages; everyone needs nutritious food to thrive, and in every community in America, people are working hard to provide for themselves and their families. Yet in 2023, one in seven people experienced food insecurity in the United States. Ìę
âWe are grateful for the commitment of DHL, and all its partner companies, to our work and delighted that this partnership will help us reach even more of our neighbors facing food insecurity,â Chief Development Officer of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank Roger Castle said. âTheir âRace to End Hungerâ program with Kalitta, this yearâs new partner companies and the NHRA is an excellent example of corporate social responsibility for us locally and our partners nationally.âÌę
âOn behalf of everyone at Kalitta Motorsports, we were honored to participate in the âRace to End Hunger,â again this year,â Team Kalitta Top Fuel driver Doug Kalitta said. âItâs hard to believe that food insecurity is such a big problem in our country, but itâs wonderful that companies like DHL, Kalitta Air, Applied Innovation, Dayco, Future Energy Solutions, Revchem and Toyota, reliable Kalitta Motorsports partners, are also supporting organizations like Feeding America and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank in their fight against hunger. Hopefully one day soon, we can end hunger in the United States.â Ìę
âKalitta Air was proud to be a part of this great program again this year, but seeing the end result with two million meals being provided is truly special,â Kalitta Air Deputy Chief Operating Officer Heath Nicholl said. âWe appreciate DHLâs leadership in this effort and thank them for helping fight hunger in our country. Unfortunately, much more work remains, but two million meals can make a difference.â
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