The associates of Averitt Express recently donated $500,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, one of the world’s premier pediatric cancer research centers. The donation, which was collected entirely from Averitt associate contributions, is the single-largest ever made to a charitable organization by Averitt Cares for Kids, Averitt’s associate-giving program.
Averitt Cares for Kids, launched in 1986, is 100 percent funded by voluntary contributions from Averitt associates. Since its creation, Averitt Cares for Kids has donated nearly $5 million to charities, including more than $2.4 million to Memphis, Tenn-based St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Included in that total is a $1.5 million endowment toward the Averitt Express Leukemia/Lymphoma Clinic at St. Jude.
“Averitt associates truly believe in taking care of each other, and they’re committed to giving back to their communities,” says Gary D. Sasser, president and chief executive officer of the Cookeville, Tenn.-based company. “Every life is precious, and we’re proud to play a small part in helping St. Jude improve the survival rates of children with deadly childhood diseases. We certainly hope to see even more lives saved in the future.”
