Delta Doubles Fundraising Efforts for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation with $1 Million Donation

NEW YORK, April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today announced that in 2009 its customers and employees raised $1 million for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), nearly twice what had been raised last year. Delta's larger customer and employee base created by its 2008 merger with Northwest Airlines in addition to expanded initiatives enabled the record fundraising.

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At a BCRF gala held in New York last night, Delta's Senior Vice President of In-Flight Service Joanne Smith presented BCRF with a $1 million 'pink check,' bringing to $2.5 million the airline's total support of BCRF since 2005.  To date, Delta's donations have funded the work of five researchers dedicated to the mission of achieving prevention and finding a cure for breast cancer.

"Through the incredible generosity of our customers and employees worldwide, we have doubled our donation to BCRF in just one year," Smith said.  "Together, our employees and customers continue to show their profound and unwavering commitment to helping raise both awareness and funds toward the fight against breast cancer which will, one day, lead to a cure."

"The Breast Cancer Research Foundation is so grateful to the employees of Delta for their personal commitment to eliminate breast cancer," said Evelyn H. Lauder, Founder and Chairman of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. "Since 2005, Delta employees have gone above and beyond to raise both awareness and funds for the Foundation, but this year was exceptional, raising a breath-taking one million dollars for life-saving research. This exemplary effort will truly make a difference in finding a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime."

Delta this summer will commemorate its sixth year of support for BCRF with a new signature pink plane. The Boeing 767-400 aircraft will extend Delta's 'pink' message internationally by replacing an existing pink-and-white Boeing 757 that has flown primarily in North America since 2005.  

Throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month last October, Delta sold its signature pink lemonade to customers onboard nearly all Delta flights worldwide. The airline donated 100 percent of pink lemonade profits to BCRF thanks to a partnership with The Coca-Cola Company.  Additionally, Delta sells pink products, including pink luggage tags, tumblers, aprons and pens, online at www.deltashop.com, with proceeds benefiting BCRF.

About The Breast Cancer Research Foundation

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation® was founded in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder as an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to funding innovative clinical and translational research.  In October 2009, BCRF awarded nearly $28.5 million to 173 scientists across the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia. BCRF perseveres in directing more than 85 cents of every dollar raised directly to research.  And for the eighth consecutive year, BCRF received Charity Navigator's highest rating, four stars, thus outperforming over 99.8% of the 5,400 evaluated charities, while the American Institute of Philanthropy has awarded BCRF its highest possible rating of A+.  BCRF is the only breast cancer organization in the U.S. to receive these accolades.  For more information about BCRF, visit www.bcrfcure.org.

About Delta

Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year. With its unsurpassed global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 355 destinations in 65 countries on six continents. Delta employs more than 70,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of nearly 800 aircraft. A founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the industry's leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France KLM. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 16,000 daily flights, with hubs in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. The airline's service includes the SkyMiles frequent flier program, the world's largest airline loyalty program; the award-winning BusinessElite service; and more than 50 Delta Sky Clubs in airports worldwide. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.

SOURCE Delta Air Lines