Mandela''s global AIDS plan get support from FedEx Express

(From left to right) Bill Roedy, president of MTV Networks & ambassador UNAIDS; Robert W Elliott, president of FedEx Express Europe Middle East & Africa; Nelson Mandela; JF Cecillon, chairman Music Matrix and co-producer of 46664 concert; Renato Soru, chairman and CEO, Tiscali; Jim Beach, executive producer of 46664 concert

Mumbai: FedEx Express, the largest operating unit of FedEx Corp, has announced its support for Nelson Mandela's global AIDS awareness and fundraising campaign, '46664 — Give A Minute Of Your Time For AIDS.'

At the heart of the campaign is a concert to be held in Cape Town on 29 November, which will reach an estimated TV audience of over 3 billion people in 90 countries. During the concert, "voices" of our time from the world of entertainment and politics, will spread the word about the impact of AIDS, and seek to raise additional funds for vital research and care programmes.

FedEx will help transport 20,000 kilos of equipment needed for the event from London to the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa. The company will also return the equipment to London and will provide full logistics expertise and dedicated flights to support the mission.

"FedEx is a caring global corporate citizen and is proud to be part of this important effort inspired by one of today's true 'voices of our time', Nelson Mandela," says Robert W Elliott, president of FedEx Express, Europe, Middle East and Africa. "AIDS is a major global issue that should be of concern to all of us. I know that every one of our employees and contractors world wide, will be just as proud of our involvement and eager to support this momentous initiative."

The 46664 global initiative, named after Nelson Mandela's prison number on Robben Island, will raise money through the music event, and an associated CD and DVD, as well as inviting people to pledge their support by telephone. Campaigners and artists such as Bono, Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen and Dave Stewart, among others, are joining together to perform and record songs specifically written for the 46664 campaign.

With annual revenues of $23 billion, FedEx Corp is the premier global provider of transportation, e-commerce and supply chain management services. The company offers integrated business solutions through a network of subsidiaries operating independently. FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp, connects areas that generate 90 per cent of the world's gross domestic product in one to three business days with door-to-door, customs-cleared service and a money-back guarantee.