The sky’s the limit for a pre-teen pilot taking flight after UPS granted the aspiring aviator wings for a day during the launch of its annual Wishes Delivered campaign. UPS knows that millions of deliveries during the holidays begin with a wish. This global initiative spreads goodwill and inspiration by delivering a few very special wishes to individuals in the communities we serve. The holiday campaign also raises money for various nonprofits that improve quality of life around the world.

Taylor Peeff’s first-time flight, helping inspire young women to pursue careers in aviation, is just one of this year’s heart-warming stories. Others include James Leitner’s coast-to-coast walk carrying 80 pounds of water to raise awareness and funds needed to provide clean drinking water in Tanzania, and a 300-unit homeless veterans’ village being constructed in San Diego.  

UPS also has partnered with nationally-syndicated talk show “Live with Kelly and Ryan” on a special holiday contest. With “Live’s Holiday Wish List,” viewers can submit their wishes for other people for the chance to have them fulfilled this holiday season.

“Wishes Delivered is another way for UPS to make a difference in the communities we serve,” said Alan Gershenhorn, Chief Commercial Officer, UPS. “The wishes we grant are more than just surprises and gifts; it’s people helping people across the globe. This year, we’re excited to expand Wishes Delivered, support three charities, and deliver holiday cheer around the world.”

Following the stories at wishesdelivered.ups.com and spreading the goodwill goes a long way, too. For each share of a Wishes Delivered story on social media channels like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, UPS will donate $1 to one of three charities: The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, The Salvation Army, and the Toys for Tots Literacy Program. Funds raised help these organizations pay it forward to people who need it most.

Now in its fourth season, the Wishes Delivered “Driver for a Day” story went viral on social media in 2014 when four-year-old Carson captured everyone’s hearts with his joy at becoming UPS’s youngest driver, with his own tiny UPS truck. This year, Cooper, a four-year-old leukemia patient in Canada, will become one of several recipients of a tiny UPS truck. UPS Canada partnered with Children’s Wish Foundation to grant a wish for his 12-year-old friend, Jax, who then paid it forward to Cooper.

In the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck Mexico, UPS Mexico employees surprised children at Christel House learning center with a tiny truck to drive and enjoy. UPS employees also provided much needed supplies for three families attending the nonprofit facility.

“Whether we’re delivering tiny trucks to children, school supplies to teachers, or trucks and planes full of humanitarian aid, we want to make a positive impact,” said Gershenhorn. “Our customers and the communities we serve trust us to deliver their holiday wishes, from first click to final ship.”

More ways UPS is spreading Holiday Cheer

UPS introduced Saturday Ground service earlier this year, and it is now provided in nearly 4,700 cities and towns across the country. In addition to providing delivery services, UPS provides pickup services to business customers on Saturday, allowing customers of those businesses to receive packages as early as Monday – one day sooner than before the introduction of Saturday Ground service. UPS customers can also take advantage of a feature available through the UPS My Choice service called Follow My Delivery.  This service allows shippers and consumers to track their UPS Next Day Air and UPS Worldwide Express packages in near-real time on a live map. With UPS My Choice service, members tell their UPS driver where to leave their packages such as on the side of the garage or their back porch, reschedule the delivery if they are traveling during the holidays, or redirect to an alternate location.

UPS Access Point locations offer convenient alternate delivery locations at more than 27,000 local retailers, lockers and The UPS Store locations throughout North America and Europe. These neighborhood locations are open later in the evening and on the weekends.

To help alleviate the stress of holiday shopping and delivery, the ups.com Holiday Help Center provides resources to solve even the most complex holiday shipping problems. Holiday shippers can take advantage of online chat assistance and find information on frequently asked questions, such as last days to ship to make sure deliveries arrive by Dec. 23. The Help Center playlist on the UPS YouTube channel offers animated videos and tips to prepare packages and avoid the holiday rush.

*Total amount to be donated not to exceed $100,000.