US Airways Contributes A Record $10 Million To Philanthropy In 2013

TEMPE, Ariz., Dec. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- US Airways, a unit of American Airlines Group (NASDAQ: AAL), announced today that its philanthropic contributions in 2013 reached a record $10 million. The airline supports nonprofit organizations in its hub cities of Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. through three channels of giving: the annual Corporate Giving program, the US Airways Education Foundation and the US Airways Community Foundation, in addition to volunteerism. Additionally, US Airways employees support their local communities through its annual "Hope Takes Flight" campaign benefitting United Way.

"Giving back and supporting our local communities is incredibly important to us at US Airways and it's something we'll continue to do as American Airlines. Our United Way campaign is just one example of how employees join together in the true spirit of giving to help those in need in the communities we serve," said American Airlines CEO Doug Parker.

United Way

The largest contribution on behalf of the airline and its employees is the annual "Hope Takes Flight" campaign benefitting the United Way. The 39,000 employees of US Airways and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Piedmont and PSA Airlines, surpassed last year's record by $100,000, raising $1.55 million. In addition to financial contributions, the "Hope Takes Flight" campaign takes various forms. US Airways employees coordinated and participated in a variety of fundraising events, including the airline's popular Jet Pulls in Charlotte, Phoenix and Philadelphia in which teams of employees raise money and race to pull a parked aircraft 15 feet. A record 111 teams pulled this year making these the most popular Jet Pulls to date. The winning team of employees in Charlotte pulled a 50-ton Airbus A319 the required 15 feet in 3.708 seconds.

Corporate Giving

The US Airways Corporate Giving Program invests in IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations whose missions support arts, human services and education organizations that enhance the quality of life in the airline's hub and focus cities. Including the "Hope Takes Flight campaign," in 2013, US Airways' Corporate Giving totaled more than $8.6 million.

This was the second year of the US Airways BE PINK campaign, a partnership with American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (MSABC). Sales of BE PINK merchandise, uniform items that were worn during the month of October, MSABC walks in the airline's hub cities and, for the first time, onboard donations from passengers raised $95,000 for MSABC.

Through the US Airways Miles of Hope program, US Airways customers may donate their Dividend Miles to five national nonprofit organizations: the American Red Cross, Fisher House Foundation, Keep America Beautiful, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Mercy Medical Airlift. In 2013, US Airways provided $1.75 million in in-kind contributions, which includes an annual matching campaign by the airline.

US Airways Education Foundation

The US Airways Education Foundation awarded $725,000 in scholarships and grants in 2013. In total the Education Foundation awarded 130 scholarships to children of US Airways employees and awarded $270,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations with children's educational programs in its hub cities Funding sources include contributions from US Airways employees, fundraising events and private donations.

US Airways Community Foundation

The US Airways Community Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations to support capital projects and building campaigns. In 2013, the Community Foundation will award a total of $567,000 in grants to approximately 16 nonprofit organizations. Those grants will be distributed before the end of the year.

Volunteerism

The airline facilitates several volunteer programs which include: Do Crew, Puppies in Flight, Flights for 50 and Destination Do Crew.  This year employees donated 28,000 hours of their time which is valued at $620,000.

The US Airways Do Crew is a dedicated corps of employee and retiree volunteers that participate in community-based projects in the airline's hub cities. More than 175,000 hours have been volunteered through the Do Crew to the communities US Airways serves since its inception in 1997. Puppies in Flight is a volunteer program in partnership with    Assistance Dogs International. Through this program employees use their flight benefits to transport service dogs to be paired with their handler or to an individual who will raise the dog to be a service animal. Flights for 50 recognizes employees who individually demonstrate their dedication by volunteering at least 50 hours per calendar year for a nonprofit organization, which is then eligible to receive a $500 US Airways gift card.

More information regarding the all of the airline's charitable programs can be found at www.usairways.com/corporategiving.

About American Airlines Group

American Airlines Group (NASDAQ: AAL) is the holding company for American Airlines and US Airways. Together with American Eagle and US Airways Express, the airlines operate an average of nearly 6,700 flights per day to 339 destinations in 54 countries from its hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. American's AAdvantage and US Airways Dividend Miles programs allow members to earn and redeem miles for travel and everyday purchases as well as flight upgrades, vacation packages, car rentals, hotel stays and other retail products. A founding member of the oneworld® alliance, American Airlines and its members and members-elect, serve 981 destinations with 14,244 daily flights to 151 countries. Connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir or Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines and follow US Airways on Twitter @USAirways and on Facebook.com/USAirways.

SOURCE US Airways