ATLANTA, Oct. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air
Lines (NYSE: DAL) is supporting veterans, active service members
and their families by matching customer-donated miles to Fisher
House Foundation's Hero Miles Program and Luke's Wings in November.
For the second consecutive year, Delta will match donations up to
an aggregate total of 10 million miles.
SkyWish is the charitable arm of Delta's SkyMiles frequent flyer
program and allows Delta and its SkyMiles members to donate miles
to 30 charitable organizations worldwide.
Fisher House Foundation's Hero Miles Program and Luke's Wings
are able to use the miles donated through SkyWish to provide air
travel to wounded, injured or ill service members and veterans as
well as their families, connecting military members with their
loved ones for support while they undergo treatment and
recovery.
"Delta is proud to partner with our customers to impact American
heroes and make a difference in the lives of men and women who have
sacrificed so much for others," said Tad
Hutcheson, Vice President of Community Affairs for Delta.
"Through this partnership, we are able to aid in the healing
process, reuniting injured veterans and service members with their
biggest support system – their loved ones."
Fisher House Foundation's program offers military and veteran
families a place to stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving
treatment at a military or VA medical center. Delta is one of the
chief financial supporters of VA Long Beach Fisher House in
Long Beach, Calif., which began
construction earlier this month. In 2014, the airline also
contributed significantly toward the construction of a second
Fisher House facility at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Seattle.
Luke's Wings provides families with the means to travel to be
with their loved one during the service member's hospitalization
and rehabilitation. Since its inception in 2008, Luke's Wings has
booked one-third of its flights using miles donated from Delta's
SkyWish program. In April of 2015, Luke's Wings awarded Delta with
its first-ever Community Impact Award during its 4th annual Heroes
Gala for its commitment to the community and generosity during the
2014 Veteran's Day promotion, which generated 5 million SkyMiles
for Luke's Wings.
Delta is committed to supporting active military and veterans
throughout the U.S. In addition to Fisher House Foundation and
Luke's Wings, Delta's support of the military also includes the
Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, Marine Toys for Tots,
Serving Our Troops, the USO and airport military lounges, including
the Freedom Center in Detroit and
the Minnesota Armed Forces Service Center.
Delta and its employees believe they have a civic obligation to
give back to the communities where its employees live, work and
serve. As part of this commitment, Delta, the Delta Air Lines
Foundation and its employees contribute time, energy and millions
of dollars to a host of philanthropic causes.
To review the SkyWish program terms and conditions and to donate
miles, go to delta.com/veterans.
About Fisher House
Fisher House Foundation is best
known for a network of comfort homes where military and veterans'
families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving
treatment. These homes are located at major military and VA
medical centers nationwide, and in Europe, close to the medical center or
hospital it serves. Fisher Houses have up to 21 suites, with
private bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen,
laundry facilities, a warm dining room and an inviting living
room. Fisher House Foundation ensures that there is never a
lodging fee. Since inception, the program has saved military
and veterans' families an estimated $282
million in out of pocket costs for lodging and
transportation.
Fisher House Foundation also operates the Hero Miles Program,
using donated frequent flyer miles to bring family members to the
bedside of injured service members as well as the Hotels for Heroes
program using donated hotel points to allow family members to stay
at hotels near medical centers without charge. The Foundation
also manages a grant program that supports other military charities
and scholarship funds for military children, spouses and children
of fallen and disabled veterans. fisherhouse.org
About Luke's Wings
Luke's Wings is an organization
dedicated to the support of service members who have been wounded
in battle. Recognizing the immediate need for families to be
with their loved ones at such a difficult time, Luke's Wings
provides families with the means to visit during the service
member's hospitalization and rehabilitation. By purchasing
travel agency services and travel tickets for loved ones, Luke's
Wings provides an immediate and invaluable service to the families
of our men and women at arms while also helping to encourage and
motivate the service member's recovery.
In 2011, Luke's Wings expanded the mission to also include Texas
Veterans and all Veterans in Hospice Care. As such; a Veteran in
Hospice Care may be surrounded by loved ones as they pass away.
Today, the majority of requests are for World War II Veterans,
Korean War Veterans, and Vietnam War Veterans in elderly care
facilities or long term inpatient care facilities. Luke's Wings
regards the Veterans in Hospice Care Program as a "final salute" to
the greatest generation that ever lived. lukeswings.org/
About Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines serves more than
170 million customers each year. Delta was named to FORTUNE
magazine's top 50 World's Most Admired Companies in addition to
being named the most admired airline for the fourth time in five
years. Additionally, Delta has ranked No.1 in the Business Travel
News Annual Airline survey for four consecutive years, a first for
any airline. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the
Delta Connection carriers offer service to 318 destinations in 58
countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs nearly 80,000 employees
worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 800 aircraft.
The airline is a founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance and
participates in the industry's leading trans-Atlantic joint venture
with Air France-KLM and Alitalia as well as a joint venture with
Virgin Atlantic. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta
offers customers more than 15,000 daily flights, with key hubs and
markets including Amsterdam, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles,
Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK, New York-LaGuardia,
Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Tokyo-Narita.
Delta has invested billions of dollars in airport facilities,
global products and services, and technology to enhance the
customer experience in the air and on the ground. Additional
information is available on the Delta News Hub, as well as
delta.com, Twitter @DeltaNewsHub, Google.com/+Delta,
Facebook.com/delta and Delta's blog takingoff.delta.com.
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SOURCE Delta Air Lines