Con-way donates $65,000 to buy holiday gifts for Joplin residents in need

(From Con-Way Truckload)

Con-way Truckload, a full-truckload carrier and subsidiary of Con-way Inc. today announced that its employees raised approximately $65,000 in the company's 18th Annual Truckloads of Treasures holiday giving campaign. In addition to nearly matching last year's contribution, the company raised $100,000 for tornado relief earlier this year.

More than 150 Con-way Truckload employees, family members and friends participated in a shopping spree last night at the Joplin Target store to purchase holiday gifts for local children and senior citizens in need. A Con-way Truckload tractor-trailer was present at the event to make the special deliveries to the Salvation Army. About $25,000 of the company's donations funded the Target shopping spree, while remaining funds were distributed ($3,000 each) to local charities, including: Boys & Girls Club, Area Agency on Aging, The Bridge, Magic Moments Riding Therapy, House of Hope, Children's Haven, Camp Quality and Ronald McDonald House.

"Since May's devastation, Children's Haven has provided nurturing care for 137 percent more children, and their length of stay has increased 422 percent," said Stephanie Theis, executive director, Children's Haven of Southwest Missouri. "We are so thankful to Con-way Truckload, whose partnership ensures that area children have a safe home when they are especially vulnerable."

To raise the necessary funds for Truckloads of Treasures, Con-way Truckload's executive management team and the company's Voices and Values Team donated several raffle prizes. Tickets were sold to Con-way Truckload employees in differing dollar amounts, depending on the raffle prize. This year's items included one day, one week and two weeks off with pay; Target and Toys-R-Us gift cards in amounts ranging from $250 to $300; $250 cash; and the Richard Petty Driving Experience, a $150 value.

"Con-way Truckload employees worked very hard to make Truckloads of Treasures possible while also supporting tornado relief efforts. Our community lost a lot this year, and we're extremely proud of our fundraising accomplishments," said Herb Schmidt, president, Con-way Truckload. "It could be any of us in need of help. We are so fortunate to be in the position to give and glad that we can."

Since 1998, Truckloads of Treasures has presented more than $500,000 in employee-raised donations to local organizations through the program.

In addition to the Joplin shopping spree, Con-way Truckload employees assisted company-sponsored charitable efforts at locations around the country. Con-way Truckload terminals in West Memphis, Ark.; Taylor, Mich.; and Lancaster and Laredo, Texas, each received $4,000 for giving sprees, while $700 of funds supported efforts at the company's smaller Hazelton, Pa., facility.