KCS issues challenge grant as part of Holiday Express fundraiser

Kansas City Southern's Holiday Express project so far this year has raised $148,115 in a fundraiser to benefit The Salvation Army in 20 communities on the Class I's network.

KCS officials announced in September that the company would launch the fundraiser to mark the Holiday Express program's 20th anniversary. Yesterday, the company issued a challenge grant to raise even more, KCS officials said in a press release.

President and Chief Executive Officer Patrick Ottensmeyer said KCS will donate $2 for every $1 raised by the Holiday Express project, up to an additional $100,000, between Nov. 28 and Dec. 15. 

The 20 communities that will receive the funds include Kansas City, Joplin and Mexico, Missouri; Beaumont, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Houston, Laredo and Port Arthur, Texas; Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Shreveport and Westlake, Louisiana; Gulfport, Jackson and Vicksburg, Mississippi; Decatur, Arkansas; East St. Louis, Illinois; Pittsburg, Kansas; and Heavener, Oklahoma.

Over 19 years, the KCS Holiday Express project has raised more than $2.1 million, which was donated to The Salvation Army at each scheduled Holiday Express train stop to help provide warm clothing and other necessities for children in need. The KCS Holiday Express was built on the tradition of the Santa Train that ran on a segment of the network bought by KCS in 1997.

Although this year's train trip was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fundraising element of the Holiday Express program continues.