Delta Air Lines Partners with American Cancer Society to Achieve $1.3 million in Fundraising to End Cancer

Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) will hold more than 100 fundraising events next week as part of its partnership with the American Cancer Society with a new goal to generate $1.3 million to support research and other endeavors to end cancer.

On May 8, Delta employees will observe the fifth annual Delta Day of Hope, modeled after Relay For Life, the American Cancer Society's signature fundraising event. Day of Hope events will be held on this day at more than 100 airports around the globe with Delta service including its hubs in Atlanta, New York, Detroit and Minneapolis as well as London-Heathrow, Rome, Tokyo and Sydney.

"Delta's culture of winning together doesn't end at taking care of our customers with the excellent service they deserve every day as a global airline," said Gil West, Delta's executive vice president and chief operating officer. "It continues by giving back meaningfully to the communities we're privileged to serve to combat cancer, a disease that has touched us all."

At Delta's Technical Operations Center in Atlanta on May 9, Delta employees will compete in a Jet Drag event that will challenge dozens of teams to pull a Boeing 757 aircraft 20 feet in the fastest time. Events will culminate that afternoon with a large Relay For Life event at Delta's general offices in Atlanta.

"Cancer is the leading cause of death from illness in the U.S. workforce, and it creates one of the greatest economic burdens of all leading causes of death worldwide," said American Cancer Society Chief Executive Officer John Seffrin, Ph.D. "The generosity and ongoing support of Delta Air Lines have a direct impact on the Society's ability to ensure that lifesaving cancer research continues to get funded, people facing cancer get the help they need, and our efforts are amplified so we can make this cancer's last century."

The American Cancer Society recognized Delta with its Distinguished Corporate Achievement award for its fundraising efforts in the fight to end cancer in 2012, and the company was awarded the prestigious Pinnacle Award for raising more than $1 million in 2013. Also this year, Delta is expanding its support to include a public online auction to launch in August and will participate in American Cancer Society gala events.