OREANDA-NEWS. November 20, 2015. When civil rights activist Bob Brown learned how many school children in Africa didn’t have access to school books, he set out to change the world – one book at a time. Brown’s International BookSmart Foundation has donated more than 5 million books to children throughout Africa.

Thanks to UPS’s Wishes Delivered campaign, Mr. Brown’s book inventory now has been organized via a major warehouse makeover by UPS, which also will ship more than 180 tons of additional books to schools across Africa over the next three years. See how Mr. Brown is making a difference.

Surpassing 20,000 wishes is the UPS (NYSE: UPS) goal for its second annual Wishes Delivered campaign, created to spread goodwill and share stories of people making a difference.  This year’s campaign begins with Bob Brown’s story and UPS’s actions to solve his logistics challenges.

For every wish submitted to UPS using the hashtag #WishesDelivered, the company will donate \\$1 to one of five partner charities: Boys & Girls Clubs of America, The Salvation Army, Toys for Tots Literacy Program, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or The World Food Programme*. People can submit their wishes on www.ups.com/wishes or by using the hashtag #WishesDelivered on Facebook and Twitter through December 31, 2015.

“So many of the packages that UPS delivers at the holidays begin with a wish,” said UPS senior vice president of global marketing Teresa Finley, who is also serving as Chief Wishes Officer this holiday season. “We’re excited that UPS can play the role of problem solvers and help a group of remarkable people achieve their wish for a more joyful world.” 

First launched during the 2014 holiday season, Wishes Delivered delighted in surprising ways. Children in southeast Texas experienced the wonder of snow, while Malawi youth were presented with thousands of books. Veterans received training support for assistance dogs and a four-year-old boy named Carson was surprised with a custom package delivery truck that helped him realize his dream to be a UPS driver. Watch for his return this holiday season to “pay it forward.”

More goodwill from UPS resources that make holidays hassle-free

Shopping for, and delivering, gifts to friends and loved ones during the holiday season can be a stressful experience. UPS hopes to alleviate some of that stress with the ups.com® Holiday Help Center, which provides online chat assistance, information on frequently asked questions and calendar ship-by dates that can enable shippers to make sure their deliveries arrive by Dec. 24. The Help Center playlist on the UPS YouTube channel offers animated videos and tips to prepare packages and avoid the holiday rush. Convenient The UPS Store® locations are one more way to find assistance from certified packaging experts and make the holidays hassle-free. 

UPS My Choice® gives consumers information and control to manage deliveries coming to their homes.  Nearly 20 million UPS My Choice members receive delivery alerts via text or email before their packages arrive. Registration is free and easy. Members can direct their UPS driver where to leave packages (i.e. by the side door or back porch) or provide re-route instructions to a neighbor or work. Through these advance delivery instructions consumers can arrange convenient pickup at a nearby The UPS Store® or UPS Access Point™ location – places that are safe from children’s eyes.

*Total amount to be donated not to exceed \\$150,000.

About UPS

UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including transporting packages and freight; facilitating international trade, and deploying advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the web at ups.com® and its corporate blog can be found at longitudes.ups.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.