ArcBest Philanthropy and Employee Highlights: Q1 2025

Impact through action

Our people are the driving force behind our work to make a positive impact in the communities where we live and operate and how we’re able to serve our customers with excellence. Their passion for volunteerism and philanthropy is inspiring, and we want to share some of the great things they’re doing. From local events to charitable initiatives, our employees have been busy making a difference in 2025. Join us as we celebrate their outstanding contributions and dedication to helping others.

Philanthropy and volunteerism

Driven by ArcBest’s Philanthropy Pillars — Community, Education and People — we encourage employees to support the causes and organizations they care about.

Serving communities

• In support of the United Way of Fort Smith Area, employees raised over $4,000 by participating in a Valentine's Day gift basket raffle.   

• In support of the Community Rescue Mission’s goal to help local families affected by homelessness by providing safe shelter, meals, case management, etc., ArcBest contributed to their “Heart of the Mission” Valentine's dinner.  

• Aligning with our Wellness core value, in March, ArcBest served as a sponsor of the 2025 Fort Smith Marathon. The race starts in the heart of historic downtown Fort Smith, and the course takes runners through beautiful neighborhoods, scenic trails and rolling terrain.  

• ArcBest was a bronze sponsor for the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship banquet, hosted by the River Valley Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission in partnership with the University of Arkansas Fort Smith (UAFS). This year’s theme, “Be the Change You Want to See,” underscored the importance of personal responsibility in continuing King’s mission of equality and justice. Karissa Cole, corporate social responsibility analyst at ArcBest, represented the company at the inspiring event.  

Advancing education

• The recipients of our second annual Employee Dependent Scholarship Program were selected, and we’ll be announcing the recipients soon! These scholarships support the children and dependents of employees, helping them pursue their college or vocational school dreams.  

• We continued our ABTech School Days event with the Sallisaw, OK, and Greenwood, AR, public school districts. These events are all about inspiring students to explore careers in STEM. During these events, we kicked off recruitment for Fort Smith’s FIRST Robotics Competition team, established through our partnership with Peak Innovation Center. This initiative will see employees from across the company mentoring and guiding participants to success!  

• ArcBest employees volunteered at a local Fort Smith, AR, elementary school during Read Across America week, reading to students with the goal of inspiring a love for books. 

• ArcBest employees who are University of Arkansas Fort Smith alumni visited the UAFS campus to speak about logistics careers in classes including Foundations of Business, Macroeconomic Analysis and Business Analytics. 

• Volunteers from our ArcBest Technologies team partnered with Fort Kids Pop Up to host a STEM event at a local elementary school. This engaging event provided an interactive learning experience for Girls Inc. students in grades K-6, with the aim of sparking inspiration and nurturing a love for STEM subjects.

• Lauren Turner, senior manager of talent acquisition, and Melanie Keith, manager of talent acquisition, led a session at a “Girl Power” event at Peak Innovation Center. They shared tips on interview techniques and resume writing skills, empowering students with skills needed for success. 

Supporting people

• ArcBest’s employee-led Walk to End Alzheimer’s team kicked off the year by raising money for the 2025 River Valley Walk to End Alzheimer’s with a Nothing Bundt Cakes Valentine’s Day fundraiser. This is the first of several fundraising events leading up to the walk in September.

• ArcBest’s 2024 Leadership Academy class committed to raising funds for Breakthrough T1D, dedicated to finding life-changing solutions for Type 1 Diabetes and its complications. Fundraising efforts will continue throughout 2025.

Employee events

At ArcBest, we’re committed to cultivating a work environment where our employees not only thrive professionally but also find enjoyment in their time at work. Our recent Q1 events were designed to bring teams together and foster a sense of community. Here’s a glimpse into some of the engaging activities.

• In February, employees from our ArcBest Technologies team presented an array of dishes for a food fair, showcasing their culinary talents with an assortment of sweet and savory treats. From Thai cuisine to flan and chili, the event was a delicious celebration of our diverse team.

• Our Mosaic Employee Resource Group (ERG) hosted several activities for Black History Month, including a session with guest speaker Sherry Toliver, a civil rights advocate and social activist. In a virtual webinar, Sherry discussed the profound impact of the Black community in Fort Smith, AR.

• To kick off Employee Appreciation Day in March and celebrate our people, our Employee Experience team and several members of our executive leadership team served breakfast and lunch to the employees at our Fort Smith, AR, campuses. Employees at our Medina, OH, Chicago, IL, and Nashville, TN, locations also enjoyed similar Employee Appreciation Day events.

• In March, our ArcBest Technologies team came together for the ABTech Women in STEM lunch at the Peak Innovation Center. It was a wonderful opportunity to network, listen to local guest speakers and dive into a hands-on team-building exercise that sparked creativity and teamwork.

• To wrap up Women’s History Month, our Women in Supply Chain (WISC) ERG hosted a Bloom Bar event. Women from across the organization gathered to create beautiful bouquets, fostering connections and celebrating the spirit of collaboration.

• Our CoNECT ERG hosts a monthly “Brewsdays” evening event off-site, perfect for new hires, newly relocated employees or anyone looking to mingle and make new connections across the company. With fun games and discounted drinks, it’s a great way to enjoy a relaxed evening and build camaraderie.

2025 philanthropy and people outlook

We have many meaningful philanthropy initiatives and exciting employee events lined up for the year. Stay tuned for more updates and impactful stories that highlight how our teams are making a difference!