USA: Delta Airlines Fights Against Cancer

One day can change the lives of an individual, a family, a business or an entire community when disaster strikes — leaving them feeling helpless. One day can also make all the difference when people come together to change lives for the better.

On April 26, the American Red Cross is encouraging people to come together for its third annual Giving Day to support its urgent humanitarian needs, provide comfort and hope where it’s needed most and inspire the single largest day of Red Cross giving outside of major disasters. The theme for this year’s event is #Help1Family.

The American Red Cross is Delta’s longest-standing nonprofit partner, which has allowed the airline and its employees and customers to help those in need for more than 75 years. To support its partner, Delta encourages employees to join the campaign by donating to #Help1Family.

“Delta's ongoing partnership allows the airline, our customers and our employees to always be there to help those in need,” said Tad Hutcheson, Managing Director — Community Engagement. “Supporting the #Help1Family campaign gives our employees the opportunity to help those who are affected by crisis around the world and truly make a difference in the lives of others.”

Throughout the year, Delta employees give blood at corporate blood drives, making Delta the largest corporate blood donor in the Southeast and ranked No. 3 nationwide, donating 8,132 pints of blood during 2016.

Also, Delta is an Annual Disaster Giving Program participant at the $1 million level, allowing the organization to be strategic and proactive in disaster response.

The American Red Cross is the U.S.’ premier provider of disaster relief, blood, health and safety services. The organization provides 24-hour support to members of the military, veterans and their families at home and around the world, and trains millions of people in first aid, water safety and other lifesaving skills.

The Red Cross has the largest network of humanitarian volunteers, with 13 million in 187 countries, and responds to a community disaster every eight minutes.

Donating to fight cancer is now easier than ever, and it’s just a text away. U.S.-based Delta customers and employees can text FLY to 41444 to donate money directly to the American Cancer Society.

Money donated via Delta’s text campaign counts towards the airline’s goal of raising $2.25 million in 2017 for the Society. Unlike other text campaigns that use a third-party carrier, 100 percent of the proceeds are donated to the Society.

Participants in the text campaign will be entered into a drawing for an iPad, and the winner will be announced May 13. Official sweepstakes rules are available here.

For 15 years, Delta has partnered with the American Cancer Society to elevate awareness and ensure essential dollars continue to fund cutting edge research, provide free services to anyone fighting cancer and offer grass roots education to help people learn how to reduce their cancer risks.

In 2016 more than 50,000 Delta employees, family members and customers donated more than $2 million to fund the Society's lifesaving mission.

The text campaign is just one of a number of initiatives Delta and its employees are engaged in to reach their fundraising goal. On May 5, Delta will hold the largest corporate Relay For Life event in the U.S. at Atlanta TechOps.

Donations can be made through the Delta Corporate Relay For Life website.

During the Relay event, Delta will hold its eighth annual Jet Drag, also at Atlanta TechOps. Teams across the airline will raise money to compete in the event, where teams of 20 try to pull a Boeing 757 20 feet in the fastest time.

Additionally, Delta stations around the globe will hold fundraising and awareness events for Delta Day of Hope on May 10, and customers onboard will notice the Delta One TUMI amenity kits take on a purple accent for the month in support of the American Cancer Society.