American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes Partner to Deliver Holiday Cards to Wounded Service Members

American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes Partner to Deliver Holiday Cards to Wounded Service Members

WASHINGTON, Tuesday, December 18, 2007 — America’s wounded service members are always grateful for supportive cards and notes––especially during the holiday season.

This holiday season, communities across America are invited to mail cards along with personal messages of support to wounded service members at military hospitals around the country, through a unique partnership between the American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes Inc.

With the support of the U.S. Department of Defense and Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and with help from Pitney Bowes Government Solutions, the American Red Cross will collect, review and distribute holiday greeting cards to wounded military personnel. For security reasons, the Red Cross will be able to accept only holiday cards but not packages. Red Cross volunteers will receive and bundle the cards, which will be shipped by Pitney Bowes Government Solutions. Then, Red Cross volunteers at the medical facilities will distribute the cards throughout the holiday season.

“So many Americans want to show their support and gratitude by reaching out to wounded service members at Walter Reed and other military medical centers during the holiday season,” said Neal Denton, American Red Cross Senior Vice President for Service to the Armed Forces. “With the support of the Department of Defense, Walter Reed leadership and Pitney Bowes, we can bring a little cheer to these brave men and women,” added Denton.

“It is an honor to provide this small measure of comfort at holiday time to those who have sacrificed so much,” said Pitney Bowes President and CEO Murray Martin. “We want to make it as easy as possible for all Americans to show their appreciation to the men and women who serve this nation so proudly and selflessly.”

Please address your holiday cards to:

We Support You During Your Recovery!
c/o American Red Cross
P.O. Box 419
Savage, MD20763-0419

Be sure to affix adequate postage when mailing to the Red Cross. Multiple cards without envelopes may be placed in one mailing envelope or a box that includes a return address. Please mail your holiday cards so that they are postmarked no later than December 24. Holiday cards must be received no later than December 27. Cards received after this date will be returned to the sender. Again, senders are reminded that "care packages" are not part of the program––send only cards and notes. Also, please refrain from using glitter or any other inserts that would not be appropriate in a hospital environment.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected. Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.

About Pitney Bowes

Pitney Bowes (NYSE:PBI) is a mailstream technology company that helps organizations manage the flow of information, mail, documents and packages. Our 35,000 employees deliver technology, service and innovation to more than two million customers worldwide. The company was founded in 1920 and annual revenues now total $6 billion. More information is available at www.pb.com.