American Airlines, Fort Worth Airpower Foundation Present Sky Ball Fundraiser This Weekend Benefiting Military Families

FORT WORTH, Texas, Oct. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The ninth annual Sky Ball fundraiser, presented by American Airlines and the Fort Worth Airpower Foundation (FWAPF), along with presenting sponsor Bell Helicopter, will be held Saturday, Oct. 22, at American's Alliance Airport Maintenance and Engineering Base (AFW) in Fort Worth. Proceeds from the event will benefit North Texas military families and a number of organizations that directly support service members, veterans and their families.

This year's celebration commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Medal of Honor, as well as the centennials of Navy and Marine Corps aviation. More than 700 American Airlines and American Eagle employee volunteers will support the event, which will feature legendary musician and entertainer Tony Orlando as co-master of ceremonies alongside former local NBC news anchor Mike Snyder. The program includes a headline performance by award-winning actor and musician Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band.

Sky Ball IX has expanded its fundraising goal to $1 million to broaden the support the FWAPF can provide to those who have sacrificed so much for the freedoms we enjoy. Over the past four years, Sky Ball has raised more than $1.5 million. This has allowed the FWAPF to contribute to many projects that directly support members of all branches of our military and their families through various contingency funds at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth and other programs.

"All of us at American and American Eagle are extremely fortunate to have numerous opportunities to take part in events and programs that support our men and women in uniform and their families year-round," said Bob Reding, American's Executive Vice President – Operations. "Sky Ball is one of our most important events because the proceeds directly benefit our local heroes and their families. We are especially proud to honor those who have received the nation's highest military honor bestowed by Congress – our Medal of Honor recipients – and we are humbled by their presence at Sky Ball IX."

Nearly 20 of the nation's 86 living Medal of Honor recipients will attend and be honored throughout the evening, among them former Army staff sergeant Salvatore Giunta, one of the most recent recipients. The program will include a special swearing-in ceremony for more than a dozen new recruits to various branches of the military, to be led by Medal of Honor recipient Lt. Cmdr. Mike Thornton, U.S. Navy retired. Sky Ball will also honor several wounded warriors who will be flown in from Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, and Walter Reed National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. The travel is in conjunction with Sentinels of Freedom, a military nonprofit organization that assists severely wounded service members.

The evening will include a performance by "America's Tenor," Steve Amerson; a video tribute to families of fallen soldiers by artist Phil Taylor of the American Fallen Soldiers Project; and a static display of military aircraft.

To accompany the gourmet dinner that will be served to Sky Ball attendees, ONEHOPE Wines will debut a new commemorative wine, with proceeds from this special auction item benefiting the Medal of Honor Foundation. The evening would not be complete without the legendary military grog ceremony, a tribute to the nation's service members and veterans.

In addition, this year's Sky Ball has been expanded to include festivities throughout the weekend. On Friday, Oct. 21, a private "Honoring Our Heroes" luncheon will be held at the American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum for the Medal of Honor recipients. It will showcase the WWII Freedom Flight, a "living history" educational program held earlier this year. Developed by the local Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District (GCISD) and American Airlines, WWII Freedom Flight is a pilot program that paired students with World War II veterans for a trip to Washington, D.C. For many of the veterans, it was their first visit to the National World War II Memorial. GCISD Superintendent Robin Ryan will be a featured speaker at the luncheon.

To kick off the weekend on Friday evening, members of the military, their families and Sky Ball volunteers will be treated to a free private concert at AFW by country music singer-songwriter Clint Black.

"The Airpower Foundation and American Airlines have enjoyed tremendous support from patriots in North Texas and around the country over the past nine years, and their contributions to Sky Ball have made it possible for our partnership to carry out its mission providing assistance to the men and women who wear the cloth of this country in defense of our freedom," said Mike Snyder, FWAPF Chairman. "The importance of assisting men and women in uniform and their families during deployments and when they come home is the prime focus at Sky Ball and throughout the year by American Airlines and its employees. The Airpower Foundation is pleased to continue its partnership with American Airlines in this vital mission." Snyder is joined as co-chair of this year's event by American Airlines Capt. Jim Palmersheim, Managing Director of the airline's veterans and military initiatives.

For additional information please visit the Sky Ball IX website, http://www.skyballinfo.com.

About American Airlines

American Airlines, American Eagle and the AmericanConnection® carrier serve 260 airports in more than 50 countries and territories with, on average, more than 3,400 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 900 aircraft. American's award-winning website, AA.com®, provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld® alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members and members-elect serve more than 900 destinations with more than 10,000 daily flights to 149 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, AA.com, and AAdvantage are trademarks of American Airlines, Inc. (NYSE: AMR).

About The Fort Worth Airpower Foundation

The Fort Worth Airpower Foundation (a 501(c)(3) Foundation) is an associate entity of the Fort Worth Airpower Council, the nation's oldest military support organization, established in 1958 with Frank Kent as its first Chairman. The Foundation is pledged to support and enhance the Military of the United States of America in all efforts to protect and promote freedom. Specifically, the Foundation is committed to supporting the families of the men and women serving our country, especially those assigned to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NAS-JRB) Fort Worth, recognizing and honoring the JRB's importance to our community.

Current AMR Corp. news releases can be accessed at http://www.aa.com

SOURCE American Airlines