As an expression of its support for the states military families during the holiday season, Union Pacific Railroad donated $15,000 to the Kansas National Guards Military Emergency Relief Fund.

Ben Jones, Union Pacific Railroad, presented a check to Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, the adjutant general, and Mary Nesbitt, Family Programs director for the Kansas National Guard, Thursday, Dec. 18, during a brief ceremony in the Adjutant Generals Conference Room of the State Defense Building, Topeka.

"This generous donation will go a long way toward helping members of our extended military family who may be struggling financially during this holiday season," said Tafanelli. "On behalf of everyone in the Kansas National Guard and other branches of our armed services, I want to express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation."

"Union Pacific recognizes and values what the Kansas National Guard relief fund means to those that serve in the military and their families," said Ben Jones, Union Pacific director public affairs for Kansas and Missouri. "Its important that we do our part to support groups such the Kansas National Guard relief fund as they continue to positively impact Kansas cities and towns where many of our employees live and work."

Tafanelli noted that Union Pacific has been consistently rated one of the top military-friendly corporations in the nation. G.I. Jobs magazine has named Union Pacific a top military friendly employer 12 times; and Military Times ranked the company fifth in its 2014 list of "Best for Vets" Employers. The company is a member of the Army Reserves Employee Partnership Initiative, supports the Army Partnership for Youth Success program, and is a past recipient of both the Freedom Award, the U.S. governments highest employer recognition, and the Military Officers Association of America Distinguished Service Award.

The Kansas Military Emergency Relief Fund was set up to provide emergency financial aid to help military families with the cost of food, housing, utilities and medical services incurred while a member of the family is on active military duty. In addition to helping Kansas National Guard members, the fund is also available to assist members of the military reserve forces in Kansas.

Donations may be made to the Kansas Military Emergency Relief Fund through a check-off on the Kansas Income Tax Form. If you do not have a refund on your return, or you have a balance due, you still may donate to this program by writing a check for your balance due plus the amount you wish to contribute to the Military Emergency Relief Fund.