-Associates donate $100,000 to American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
-Transportation provider matching dollars contributed to internal fund to aid displaced associates
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (September 19, 2005) As the U.S. Gulf Coast continues to recover from the effects of Hurricane Katrina, Averitt Express is responding with a variety of relief efforts to aid those affected, including its own associates based in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
First of all, the associates of Averitt have made a $100,000 donation to the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. This donation was collected through "Averitt Cares", Averitt's 100% associate-funded charitable organization.
Averitt associates are also coming together to raise money that will go directly to their fellow teammates caught in the hurricane's path. To assist these associates, many of whom were based out of the company's service center in New Orleans, Averitt has set up an internal Hurricane Katrina relief fund. The company has committed to match its associates' contributions to this fund.
Other internal Averitt relief efforts for displaced associates include: The "A-Team adoption program" through which associates in Averitt's eight operational regions have adopted displaced fellow associates and committed to help with their personal needs on an ongoing basis Averitt has made every effort to ensure displaced associates can continue to have work during this difficult time.
Teammates are being temporarily relocated from affected service centers to other Averitt facilities.
Other miscellaneous financial assistance from the company The final total of Averitt's Gulf Coast relief efforts is expected to be near $200,000.
From an operational standpoint, all of Averitt's Gulf Coast facilities, including it's New Orleans location, have now reopened though transportation service remains restricted in isolated regions and some facilities operations are limited.