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American Airlines Employees Help College Students Affected by the Recession

Posted on: Thursday, 21 May 2009, 12:35 CDT

Fundraising Campaign Raises Thousands of Dollars for UNCF

FORT WORTH, Texas, May 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- American Airlines today announced that its employees will donate more than $10,000 to United Negro College Fund's (UNCF) Campaign for Emergency Student Aid. The campaign is a national initiative to raise emergency funding to assist thousands of recession-affected students at UNCF-supported colleges.

Through a special workplace fundraising campaign coordinated by the airline's African American Employee Resource Group (AAERG), American will donate $5,000 each to Paul Quinn College in Dallas and Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins, Texas, two of UNCF's Texas-based institutions, so that students can remain in school.

"UNCF is grateful to American Airlines and its generous employees for their long-standing partnership and ongoing investment in the future of our students and this community," said Diane Stephenson, UNCF area development director for North Texas. "The young people who will receive this financial assistance are sophomores, juniors and seniors in jeopardy of having to drop out of college. These grants will enable them to continue their education, graduate and become the teachers, engineers, scientists and business professionals of tomorrow."

UNCF's mission is to serve youth, the community and the nation by supporting students' education and development through scholarships and other programs, strengthening its member colleges and universities, and advocating for the importance of minority education. Since its founding, UNCF assistance has enabled more than 350,000 students to graduate from its member colleges and universities.

American Airlines has supported UNCF for more than 30 years as a sponsor of An Evening of Stars(R), the national UNCF television entertainment special that honors music-industry legends. American also sponsors local UNCF community events and campaigns around the country. Two of the airline's top executives sit on the boards of directors of UNCF member colleges.

"American Airlines is proud to support such a highly respected and impactful organization as UNCF and its 39-member historically black colleges and universities," said Denise Lynn, American Airlines Vice President - Diversity and Leadership Strategies. "These students deserve a chance to succeed in their chosen professions, and American Airlines employees are grateful for this opportunity to give back to our community."

About UNCF

UNCF - the United Negro College Fund - is the nation's largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students' education and development through scholarships and other programs, strengthens its 39 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 18 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 900 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste."(R) Learn more at www.UNCF.org.

About American Airlines

American Airlines, American Eagle and AmericanConnection(R) serve 250 cities in 40 countries with, on average, more than 3,400 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 900 aircraft. American's award-winning Web site, AA.com(R), 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(R) 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 serve nearly 700 destinations in more than 130 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, AA.com, We know why you fly and AAdvantage are registered trademarks of American Airlines, Inc. (NYSE: AMR)

AmericanAirlines(R) We know why you fly(R)

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SOURCE American Airlines

Source: PR Newswire

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