Christmas SPIRIT Foundation Receives Summit Award for Trees for Troops

You've heard me talk about "cause-related marketing." The Trees for Troops program -- conducted by the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation in conjunction with FedEx and Drake & Company -- is a great example of a cause marketing campaign at work.

The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation has been nationally recognized for its Trees for Troops program by the 2008 Associations Advance America Summit Award from American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the Center for Association Leadership.

The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation (CSF) – with support from FedEx Freight – has delivered more than 34,000 Real Christmas Trees to military families since Trees for Troops began in 2005.

It has grown from about 400 Christmas tree farms and retailers participating to more than 850. Almost 17,000 families at more than 40 military bases received a Christmas Tree in 2007 grown by an American tree farm.

“We are excited to receive this significant honor recognizing the work of hundreds of volunteers in the Christmas tree industry,” said Steve Drake, CEO of the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation. “The Trees for Troops program represents the work of more than 850 tree farms and retailers along with the hundreds of miles and hours provided by our partners at FedEx Freight. All these efforts have allowed us to deliver fresh, farm-grown trees and holiday memories to more than 34,000 military families. We look forward to an expanded program in 2008.”