SALISBURY, MD. (Tuesday, October 1, 2019) — Twenty-five Perdue truck drivers and their rigs hit the road on Saturday, Sept. 28 to participate in Delaware’s leg of the annual truck convoy to benefit Special Olympics.

Perdue drivers were among 219 truckers who joined the convoy and traveled the 29-mile route through scenic southern Delaware that began and ended at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington. The event raised $45,000 for Special Olympics Delaware this year, bringing its 17-year total to more than $645,000.

Many of the Special Olympics athletes rode “shotgun” in the big rigs during the convoy, making a lasting impression on the Perdue drivers.

“I love it and they love it. The more you blow the horn, that makes the experience for them just that much better,” said Perdue driver Joe Benoist, who is based in Rockingham, N.C. “This event is good for Perdue, and it’s good to support the athletes. It’s something they don’t get to do very often, so we’re thrilled to be here and support them.”

For Perdue driver Ed “Crunch” Wright, the event has special meaning for he and his family as his brother participated in Special Olympics and attended the Benedictine School for Exceptional Children in Ridgley, Md.

“We’ve participated in Special Olympics for 40 years,” said Wright. “It means so much to me and my family.

“The athletes are just all smiles when they get to be up in the big truck and talk on the radio. They look forward to it all year long and so do we. One of the best things about working for Perdue is we get to do these types of events. It’s all voluntary. We get to come here and meet with the athletes and raise money for Special Olympics, and make sure that program can continue on.”

This year, Perdue continued its support of Special Olympics Delaware through sponsorship of the truck convoy with a $5,000 grant funded by the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms. Perdue also bid $5,000 in an auction to earn the No. 2 truck position in the convoy.

“We’re so proud to have a company like Perdue, who has such a broad family based, quality reputation, that is willing to take the time, energy and commitment to be out front in the community like this,” said Ann Grunert, executive director of Special Olympics Delaware. “Having Perdue and its drivers be a part of this really makes a difference in telling the community our athletes matter. The support of the entire trucking community continues to impress us.”

As Tim O’Hea, director of Perdue Transportation explains, “It is an honor for Perdue Transportation and its professional drivers to support Special Olympics at the World’s Largest Truck Convoy. It reflects our company commitment to give back to the community. Our drivers and associates who volunteer at the event look forward to this event each year and start planning for it months in advance.”

About Special Olympics
The mission of Special Olympics Delaware is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for 4,200 children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. To learn more, visit www.sode.org.

About The World’s Largest Truck Convoy
The World’s Largest Truck Convoy is part of a national effort to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics. It was the creation of former truck driver and Orange County (FL) Sheriff’s Department Cpl. Norm Schneiderhan, whose family is involved in the truck industry. He was so inspired by the impact Special Olympics has had on his life through participation in the Law Enforcement Torch Run, that he decided to create the World’s Largest Truck Convoy. Today, it has expanded to 26 states and four Canadian provinces.

About Perdue Farms 
We’re a fourth-generation, family-owned, U.S. food and agriculture company. Through our belief in responsible food and agriculture, we are empowering consumers, customers and farmers through trusted choices in products and services.
The PERDUE® brand is the number-one brand of fresh chicken in the U.S., and the company is the leader in organic chicken in the U.S. Perdue AgriBusiness is an international agricultural products and services company. We are actively advancing our animal welfare programs, and as we approach our 100th anniversary in 2020, our path forward is about getting better, not just bigger. Our brands are leaders in no-antibiotics- ever chicken, turkey and pork, and in USDA-certified organic chicken. Learn more at www.perduefarms.com.

About the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation
The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms, was established in 1957 by company founder Arthur W. Perdue and is funded through the estates of Arthur W. Perdue and Frank Perdue. As part of our belief in supporting the communities where and with whom we do business, the Foundation provides grants on behalf of Perdue Farms in communities where large numbers of our associates live and work. At Perdue Farms, we believe in responsible food and agriculture®.