FedEx and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Celebrate a Dozen Years of Purple Eagle Honorees

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FedEx and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital celebrated the 12th year of their Purple Eagle program at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. The 2024 honoree is 7-year-old Micah, diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2022. His grandfather, Craig, works as a manager for FedEx line maintenance in Memphis.

The program, initiated in 2011 by FedEx VP Bill West, names a Cessna Caravan aircraft after a St. Jude patient whose parent or grandparent is a FedEx employee. Micah's plane, tail number N788FE, will display his name under the St. Jude logo throughout its service in FedEx's supplemental fleet of over 300 turboprop planes.

This tradition highlights FedEx's commitment to St. Jude, supporting their mission to help the 400,000 children worldwide diagnosed with cancer annually. The event showcases the ongoing partnership between FedEx and St. Jude in raising awareness and funds for pediatric cancer research and treatment.

MEMPHIS, TN / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2024 / Chocolate milk, chocolate chip cookies, and filling up the piggy bank he plans on donating to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® are some of the favorite things of 2024 Purple Eagle honoree, Micah. A 7-year-old who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia after he started kindergarten in the fall of 2022, Micah was honored Wednesday ahead of the first day of competition at the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind.

The Purple Eagle program began in 2011 when FedEx vice president of airline safety Bill West, a long-time volunteer for the FedEx St. Jude Championships, decided that he wanted to see more than just FedEx trucks and vans around the golf course during tournament week. As the then-managing director of Feeder Operations, the turbo prop planes operating for FedEx into smaller airports, he proposed a plan to tow and park a Cessna Caravan aircraft at the golf course and name one each year for a St. Jude patient whose parent or grandparent is a FedEx team member. One year later in 2012, the first plane was dedicated. Now, a dozen years later, the tradition continues with Micah's plane, tail number N788FE.

"Everyone may know that our big jets are named for children of FedEx team members," said West. "But after today's dedication, just 12 of our feeder planes are named. Each one is named for a patient of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital whose parent or grandparent works at FedEx, which means these are special planes for special kids."

Micah's grandfather, Craig, is a manager for the FedEx line maintenance team in Memphis and for Micah's seventh birthday, he gave Micah seven one-dollar bills. Micah responded that he was saving that money to give to St. Jude, where he one day hopes to be a nurse.

Micah's plane will sport his name under the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital logo for the duration of the Cessna Caravan's time in service as part of the FedEx supplemental aircraft fleet. There are over 300 turboprop airplanes in the supplemental fleet.

"We are incredibly grateful to our longtime partners at FedEx for providing this opportunity to honor Micah and all of the other Purple Eagle recipients over the years in such a special way," said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "It's because of generous partners like FedEx that St. Jude can help more of the 400,000 kids around the world who will get cancer each year."

12 Years of Purple Eagle Honorees

	Honoree	Diagnosis	Cessna Caravan Tail Number
2024	Micah	Acute lymphoblastic leukemia	N788FE
2023	Olivia	Neurofibromatosis	N884FE
2022	Riley	Acute lymphoblastic leukemia	N986FX
2021	Kenzie	Acute lymphoblastic leukemia	N753FX
2020	No honoree due to COVID protocols
2019	Reid	Rhabdomyosarcoma and Ectomesenchymoma	CFEXN
2018	Mya	Sickle cell disease	N981FE
2017	Calvin	Craniopharyngioma	N846FE
2016	Alyssa	Melanoma	N933FE
2015	Tyler	Acute lymphoblastic leukemia	N752FX
2014	Allie	Anaplastic Ependymoma	N987FX
2013	Hayes	Rare kidney cancer	N981FE
2012	McKaylee	Anaplastic Astrocytoma	N773FE

About FedEx Corp.

FedEx Corp. (NYSE:FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce, and business services. With annual revenue of $88 billion, the company offers integrated business solutions utilizing its flexible, efficient, and intelligent global network. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 500,000 employees to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards, and the needs of their customers and communities. FedEx is committed to connecting people and possibilities around the world responsibly and resourcefully, with a goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2040. To learn more, please visit fedex.com/about.

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital^®

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.^® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was largely considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80%, and it won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Support the St. Jude mission by donating at stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.

Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program.

Micah had his plane dedication on Wednesday, August 14, at TPC Southwind ahead of the first day of competition in the FedEx St. Jude Championships. The Purple Eagle program, which began in 2012, names a plane from the FedEx feeder fleet for a St. Jude patient whose parent or grandparent works for FedEx. Photo by Kevin Cody

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SOURCE: FedEx Corporation

View the original press release on accesswire.com

FAQ

Who is the 2024 Purple Eagle honoree for FedEx and St. Jude?

The 2024 Purple Eagle honoree is Micah, a 7-year-old diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2022. His grandfather works as a manager for FedEx line maintenance in Memphis.

What is the Purple Eagle program by FedEx (FDX) and St. Jude?

The Purple Eagle program, started in 2011, names a Cessna Caravan aircraft after a St. Jude patient whose parent or grandparent is a FedEx employee. The plane displays the child's name under the St. Jude logo throughout its service in FedEx's supplemental fleet.

How many Purple Eagle honorees have there been since the program's inception?

There have been 12 Purple Eagle honorees since the program's inception in 2011, with one each year except for 2020 due to COVID protocols.

What is the tail number of the 2024 Purple Eagle honoree's plane?

The tail number of the 2024 Purple Eagle honoree's plane is N788FE.

How many turboprop airplanes are in FedEx's (FDX) supplemental fleet?

FedEx's supplemental fleet consists of over 300 turboprop airplanes.