DHL and Southern California Community Spread Holiday Cheer to U.S. Troops in the Middle East.

DHL, the March Joint Powers Authority and Southern California Businesses Partner to Ship Hundreds of Christmas Trees, Menorahs, Lights and Decorations to Troops This Holiday Season

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- For hundreds of U.S. servicemen and women stationed in the Middle East, treasured holiday traditions such as decorating Christmas trees and receiving presents will make the season brighter when Santa Claus commandeers a Christmas tree-laden forklift at DHL's West Coast Distribution Facility in Riverside today.

DHL, the world's leading express delivery and logistics provider, is partnering with the March Joint Powers Authority (JPA), local Southern California businesses and community residents to deliver Christmas trees, menorahs, ornaments, lights, care packages and holiday cards to American service men and women stationed overseas this holiday season. All this made possible with a little help, courtesy of Santa Claus.

About 250 Christmas trees donated by local businesses and residents, as well as hundreds of boxes of lights, ornaments, candy canes, and menorahs with candles, and hundreds of holiday cards written by children from local schools are making their way to the Middle East.

A holiday-themed DHL truck, loaded with the help of Jolly St. Nicholas, leaves from DHL's Riverside hub carrying the holiday shipment of trees and gifts that are destined for the cargo hold of a 767 aircraft. This special flight departs from DHL's international gateway at Los Angeles International Airport.

From Los Angeles, the shipment will fly to John F. Kennedy International Airport, where an additional 500 Christmas trees will join the shipment bound for grateful U.S. troops in the Middle East. The trees, lights and decorations and menorahs will be distributed to Marine, Army, Navy and Air Force units.

The trees were generously donated by area tree farms including Sand Haven Pines and Christmas Conifers. The lights, decorations and menorahs were purchased with donations collected by local businesses and organizations in Moreno Valley, Riverside and Perris, Calif. Children from various schools created hand-made holiday cards for soldiers, which will accompany the shipment.

Additionally, DHL has partnered with the Family Readiness Group (FRG), an all-volunteer organization that assists troops and their family members and the March ARB Family Support Office, which assists the command in enhancing quality of life and the health and welfare of military members and families, to deliver hundreds of gifts from family members in the States to their loved ones serving overseas.

Riverside area representatives including U.S. Congressman Ken Calvert, Assemblyman Paul Cook, Brigadier General James L. Melin, commander of the Air Force Reserve Command's 452nd Air Mobility Wing, the special guest from the North Pole in the red suit and the award-winning Martin Luther King High School Band will ensure the trees and gifts receive a special send-off from the DHL facility at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside.

The DHL Trees for Troops initiative was launched in December 2004, when DHL delivered two shipments of Christmas trees and other holiday-related items to troops stationed at Camp Anaconda in Iraq. The response to these shipments from troops and their families has been so positive that DHL and various partners have expanded it to become an annual goodwill initiative for our men and women bravely serving our country overseas.

The send-off celebration at March Air Reserve Base will commence with a welcome from Robert Doherty, hub manager for DHL in Riverside, followed by words of thanks and appreciation from assembled dignitaries as well as military family support group representatives.

For more information on how DHL is preparing for the 2007 holiday season, visit www.dhl-usa.com/holiday/. Members of the media may access free multimedia, including DHL video content and print-quality stills, by visiting www.thenewsmarket.com/DHL.

About DHL

At DHL, Customer Service is back in shipping. Our mission is to provide the most flexible, personable and enjoyable experience in the shipping industry for our customers.

DHL is the global market leader of the international express and logistics industry, specializing in providing innovative and customized solutions from a single source. DHL offers expertise in express, air and ocean freight, overland transport, contract logistic solutions as well as international mail services, combined with worldwide coverage and an in-depth understanding of local markets. DHL's international network links more than 225 countries and territories worldwide with over 300,000 employees dedicated to providing fast and reliable services that exceed customers' expectations.

Founded in San Francisco in 1969, DHL is a Deutsche Post World Net brand. The group generated worldwide revenues of $80 billion in 2006.(a) For more information on DHL, visit www.dhl.com.

(a) Revenues reported in U.S. dollars as of December 31, 2006.