June 9, 2011
St. Christopher Fund Receives Sizeable Donation from the National Association of Independent Truckers (NAIT)
KNOXVILLE, TN— The St. Christopher Truckers Development & Relief Fund (SCF) received a $100,000 donation from the National Association of Independent Truckers, LLC (NAIT) Charitable Foundation. The NAIT organization has been serving the needs of Independent Owner/Operators since 1981. NAIT offers their members a variety of benefits which include health and wellness services, insurance products, business tools and entertainment offerings. Their charitable foundation sponsors academic scholarship programs as well as an assistance program for those in the trucking industry. Upon NAIT’s leadership review, they have determined the SCF and the charitable foundation are a good match.
David King, Vice President, Association Programs, stated “The NAIT Charitable Foundation has previously partnered with organizations that work to improve the lives of professional drivers. We are pleased to financially support SCF allowing them to further their work assisting the dedicated men and women that are an integral part of the industry and our economy.”
The SCF was founded in late 2007 as a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization. The SCF’s mission is to provide assistance to professional truck drivers whose medical problems have led to financial hardship. The SCF also conducts health research to benefit professional drivers and the trucking industry. To date, the Fund has been able to provide over $123,000 in financial assistance to 325 drivers. Assistance has been in the form of direct payment for household expenses, prescriptions, and medical bills. Among other things, approximately 100 additional drivers were able to receive assistance in negotiating hospital/doctor bills, finding local resources, and with finding physicians to help them. The Fund currently has 80 applications pending.
The SCF Board of Directors voted to allocate $10,000 of the donation for a scholarship program. Discussions are still underway as to the application guidelines. However, the program will likely be targeted for the child of a professional driver or for a former driver whose medical problems caused them to be unable to drive again to go to school.
Dr. Donna Kennedy, Executive Director of the SCF, stated that “NAIT’s donation will go a long way in helping drivers and their families. We are excited to have funds available to continue our mission and to expand our areas of help, such as with a scholarship program. This contribution from NAIT goes to show how much their organization cares for drivers.”
For more information about the SCF or to make a donation, visit www.truckersfund.org, send a letter to P.O. Box 30763, Knoxville, TN 37930, call 865-202-9428, or send an email to truckersfund@gmail.com.
For more information about NAIT, visit their website at www.naitusa.com or call 800-821-8014.