• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

American Airlines Employees Raise $1 Million for American Cancer Society

Posted on: Wednesday, 9 September 2009, 10:00 CDT

FORT WORTH, Texas, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Each of the past five years, American Airlines employees have laced up their sneakers to walk or run in the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life to raise money and awareness to help the fight against cancer. Thanks to their efforts, more than $1 million has been donated to the American Cancer Society.

Relay For Life is an overnight event in which teams across the country secure pledges from friends and family, then camp out at local high schools, parks or fairgrounds and take turns running or walking, at times for more than 24 hours, to raise money for the American Cancer Society. American's participation began with a few teams from its Fort Worth headquarters, who first joined the event to honor a co-worker who was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer.

"In a month after our first event, American Airlines employees raised more than $18,000," said Roger Frizzell, American's Vice President - Corporate Communications and Advertising. "Fast-forward five years, and we have surpassed the $1 million mark. This was accomplished entirely through the dedication, support and passion of American's employee volunteers who are committed to help everyone who has been affected by this terrible disease."

In 2006, American Airlines became a member of the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life National Corporate Program. Companies that commit to at least 50 teams participating in Relay For Life, in multiple states, each year can become members of the recognition-based program. In the last five years, almost 3,200 American employees from around the world, including London, Jamaica and Canada, have participated in Relay For Life events.

"American Airlines and its employees truly have made a difference in so many lives," said Maria Clark, Regional Vice President of North Texas, American Cancer Society. "Their hard work and dedication are helping us fund research, education and patient programs. Support from companies like American Airlines enables us to continue our fight against cancer."

This year, American employees have already raised nearly $225,000 through Relay For Life fundraisers including bake sales, online auctions and T-shirt sales.

About American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.

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))

Current AMR Corp. releases can be accessed on the Internet.

The address is http://www.aa.com

SOURCE American Airlines

Source: PR Newswire

More News in this Category