Trucking Cares Foundation Donates $25,000 to Voice for Awareness

Washington, DC… Trucking Cares Foundation, the trucking industry’s charitable arm, donated $25,000 to Voices for Awareness, a national organization aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of illicit fentanyl in the United States.

“TCF is pleased to announce that we have made a significant contribution to ‘Voices for Awareness.’ The ATA family and trucking at large is determined to deliver positive awareness to the growing Fentanyl crisis in America,” said TCF Chairman Phil Byrd, president and CEO of Bulldog Hiway Express. “Our citizens, employees, and families are being devastated by this evil drug and I’m proud that TCF has decided to get involved in this critical need.”

Founded in 2018, the Voices for Awareness Foundation’s mission is to raise awareness that illicit fentanyl is found in virtually every street drug today. Illicit fentanyl is highly addictive and can cause sudden death. Illicit fentanyl is found in cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and counterfeit pills disguised as Oxycodone, Percocet, Adderall and even marijuana. Fentanyl is killing Americans across the socioeconomic spectrum every five minutes.

“The number of deaths in the United States due to fentanyl poisoning is staggering. Illicit fentanyl is found in pills and powders and has made its way into every street drug. Teen deaths have dramatically increased due to fentanyl poisoning. Tragically, nationwide drug related deaths reached a new record in 2022 with 109,680 people perishing as the fentanyl crisis continues to deepen. This new record came after over 107,000 drug related deaths were recorded the prior year,” said Andrea Thomas, founder of Voices for Awareness. “The devastation to families across America cannot be ignored. The sincere actions of the American Trucking Associations’ Trucking Cares Foundation demonstrate true American spirit in time of crisis when we need all hands on deck. Voices for Awareness is grateful for their contributions and looks forward to partnering with TCF moving forward to help raise awareness and tackle the fentanyl crises gripping our country. As families impacted by fentanyl can attest, the public needs to get the facts on the dangers of fentanyl and share what you know to help protect your loved ones and potentially save a life. Don’t wait until it’s too late.”

“Once again, ATA and the trucking industry has a chance to make a difference in the quality of life of all Americans.  I urge and ask all of you to pray for the families that have lost family members to fentanyl, and for those that are struggling with addiction that may become the next tragedy. I am so proud to be a member of the trucking industry, please support and join us in this Fentanyl Awareness campaign,” Byrd said.

The Trucking Cares Foundation is the trucking industry’s charitable arm, focusing on several core areas, including humanitarian and disaster relief; eradicating human trafficking; leadership development; strengthening the industry’s relationships with law enforcement, the military and veterans’ organizations; safety and research opportunities.

For more information on the Trucking Cares Foundation, visit https://www.truckingcares.org/.