Interstate Marks 16th Year of Toy Deliveries
Through U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program

In 2006 Interstate Worldwide Relocation Services continued its tradition of giving back to the community for its 16th consecutive year through the U.S. Marines Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program. Interstate employees collected, sorted, bagged, transported and delivered toys to children living in the Barry Farms Community in Southeast Washington, D.C. on Christmas Eve.  Interstate distributed more than 2,000 toys and gifts to over 136 families and 600 children in the community.  Its efforts have resulted in roughly 5,000 children being ensured of receiving a Christmas toy since the program’s inception.  The Morrissette family, founders and owners of Interstate, have deep roots in Southeast Washington, D.C. having started the company there in 1943.

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Watch Interstate Deliver Toys (WAV)

Interstate Gives Back To The Community Throughout The Year!

So far in 2006,  Interstate has supported dozens of charities and organizations whose benefactors are diverse and numerous. Interstate will continue on a philanthropic quest to better the Washington Metropolitan Area by supporting medical, educational, athletic and community-based organizations as well as empower the employees of this great company to volunteer their services.

Interstate upholds many traditions of philanthropic genorosity. "It is our firm commitment to give back to a community that has supported our business for over 63 years," comments Arthur E. Morrissette, Jr., President, and son of the founder, of Interstate Van Lines, Inc.

Below is a list of some of the most recent charitable activities and sponsorships:

January/February

The annual Lions Club Florida Orange Sale in Springfield takes place the first or second week in January and runs for a couple weeks. Interstate provides a 40+ foot trailer to store the oranges and conveniently provide a temporary storefront for the event.

Interstate upholds a ten year tradition of receiving and housing over 1300 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies for the area councils' cookie drive. The event only lasts a day but it is a fun-filled day of assisting the girl scouts distribute the cookies to Burke area moms and dads of girl scouts.

March

In support of the Greater Washington Sports Alliance Foundation and its Inaugural National Marathon, Interstate provided logistical support with straight trucks and trailers;  towels for runners; and sponsored the "Pacesetters" team. The Greater Washington Sports Alliance Foundation is firmly committed to supporting local youth organizations that use sports to build character, encourage physical fitness and enhance education. Join them next year for this memorable event and great cause!

April

Interstate registered five teams as their entry for their annual participation of the Washington Capitol Area JA Bowl-A-Thon held in April. Employees and family joined scores of bowlers at the Fairfax Bowl America for a fun-filled day. The event raised over $250,000 in scholarship and financial aid money for area students.

Interstate supports academics and is a proud Patriot Club Member of the George Mason University(GMU). During "March Madness" - the men's basketball team headed by Coach Jim Larranaga, reached the FINAL FOUR in the NCAA Tournament. As a booster, Interstate proudly provided banners to display on the player trailer for a Parade relaying our congratulations.  Interstate also provides endowment money for a scholarship to be awarded to a local high school student each year.

May

Cardinal Bank - INOVA Keller Medical Center - Golf Tournament - Benefits the unique mental health and substance abuse treatment and educational programs for children and families in our community fourth annual Charity Classic Golf and Tennis Tournament raised over $450,000 for Inova Kellar Center, achieving its five year goal of $1 million net in four years. Over 300 golfers and tennis players plus 120 volunteers participated in the event which was held Monday, May 22 at the Country Club of Fairfax.

President and CEO, Arthur E."Buddy" Morrisette, Jr. makes a generous donation to the Joe Gibbs - Youth for Tomorrow organization - a home for troubled teenage boys and girls in Bristow, Va. The foundation houses 20-40 children year-round, with an extensive staff that teaches, cares and instills in teens principles they can use to guide themselves when they leave the home. Over the years, Gibbs' personal commitment and time at the home has turned hundreds of kids away from drugs, alcohol and crime, while demonstrating to them that they are each a valuable and important asset to this world.

Burke Volunteer Fire and Rescue Golf tournament - Silver  Sponsor - Proceeds benefit the volunteer workforce of our first responders in Burke.

The National Capital Area Boys Scouts of America - Old Dominion - Golf Tournament - Silver Sponsor - Proceeds benefit the ongoing work of the Boy Scouts to build character in the young men of Northern VA.

June

 Interstate started sponsoring the Braddock Nights Concert Series in Fairfax County several years ago and has continued to support this community-based event. Families can spend time together under the stars listening to great music and having fun throughout the Summer season.

The Interstate "Moving For The Cure" team geared up for another year of support by walking in the Susan G. Komen "Race For The Cure" on June 13th. The employees, family members and friends raised over $3,000. Employees walked in honor of those close to us who are both in remission and going through treatments of the devastating disease of women, Breast Cancer.

Also on June 13th and in support to find a cure for cancer, Interstate proudly sponsored the Vienna Relay For Life. Relay For Life is a fun-filled overnight event designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money for research and programs of your American Cancer Society. During the event, teams of people gather at schools, fairgrounds, or parks and take turns walking or running laps. Each team tries to keep at least one team member on the track at all times  Interstate donated $2,000 as a sponsor for this event.

July

The Interstate Human Resources Department started a program in January that allows employees the option to wear jeans on what has been labeled "Jeans Day" - every Friday. To wear jeans, an employees pays $5.00 into a community bank. At the end of each quarter, a charity is selected to receive the proceeds from that quarter. For the first quarter of 2006, the employees at Interstate chose to donate almost $3,000 raised from the "Jeans Day" to the Ronald McDonald House Charities. This charity assists families with children who are terminally ill or receiving long-term treatment for Cancer and other childhood diseases. The families stay at the houses that are generally located near the treating medical facilities.

The local chapter kindly displayed our name on five "hole sponsor" signs for a recent golf tournament in the are. The signs identified the families who would immediately benefit from the proceeds that Interstate donated.