US Airways Employees Raise $1.455 Million For United Way

US Airways (NYSE:LCC) and its wholly owned subsidiaries' 38,000 employees pledged $1.455 million to the airline's annual "Hope Takes Flight" campaign to benefit the United Way. This year's campaign ran between Sept. 18 and Nov. 13. The United Way works to address health and human needs in more than 1,300 communities across the country.

"Thanks to the generous spirit of the 38,000 employees of US Airways and our wholly owned subsidiaries, PSA and Piedmont Airlines, we exceeded our United Way goal for 2012," said US Airways' Chairman and CEO Doug Parker. "Together we have raised nearly $11 million for United Way since 2000, and I could not be more proud of all that our employees accomplished in 2012 to take care of those in need in our communities."

The "Hope Takes Flight" campaign is more than writing a check. US Airways employees participated in a variety of fundraising events, including the airline's popular Jet Pulls in its three hub cities of Charlotte, N.C., Phoenix and Philadelphia. A record 109 teams participated, "pulling" in nearly $29,000 alone. The winning team of employees in Philadelphia pulled a 50-ton Airbus A319 the required 15 feet in 4.799 seconds. PSA and Piedmont also contributed to US Airways' Hope Takes Flight campaign, with Piedmont Airlines coordinating their own Dash-8 pulls in five locations. Additional in-kind contributions to the United Way total $2,639,000, and bring US Airways' total time and philanthropic contributions for 2012 to $9 million.

The airline provides charitable contributions to nonprofit organizations in its hub cities of Charlotte, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. through four channels of giving: the Corporate Giving Program, the US Airways Education Foundation, the US Airways Community Foundation and Volunteerism.

Corporate GivingThe US Airways Corporate Giving Program invests in IRS 501(C)(3) nonprofit arts and culture, human services and education organizations that enhance the quality of life in the airline's hub and focus cities. Including the Hope Takes Flight campaign, in 2012, US Airways' Corporate Giving totaled $3,962,000.

This year US Airways launched BE PINK, a partnership with the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (MSABC). In addition to a $100,000 contribution from the airline, employees raised $100,000 for MSABC through the sale of BE PINK uniform items, which were worn throughout October; walks in the airline's hub cities and the sale of other BE PINK merchandise.

Through the US Airways Miles of Hope program, the flying public may donate Dividend Miles to five national nonprofit organizations: the American Red Cross, Fisher House Foundation, Keep America Beautiful, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Mercy Medical Airlift. Nearly 2,000,000,000 (45,000 round trips) have been donated to these nonprofit organizations since the Miles of Hope program began in 1998. In 2012, US Airways provided $1,750,000 in in-kind contributions, which includes an annual matching campaign by the airline.

US Airways Education FoundationUS Airways donated $422,500 to the Education Foundation for its scholarships and grants programs. The Education Foundation awarded 101 scholarships to children of US Airways employees in 2012. It also awarded $170,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations with children's educational programs in Charlotte, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. Since the Education Foundation's inception in 1990, more than $4.2 million has been awarded through grants to nonprofit organizations and college scholarships for dependents of US Airways employees. Funding sources include contributions from US Airways employees, fundraising events and private donations.

US Airways Community FoundationThe US Airways Community Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations to support capital and building campaigns. In 2012, the Community Foundation awarded a total of $425,000 in grants to six nonprofit organizations.

VolunteerismMembers of the airline's employee volunteer corps, the Do Crew, donated 23,000 hours of their time for teambuilding projects in 2012 to non-profit organizations around the system. The Do Crew celebrated its 15th anniversary this year by expanding volunteer projects to international destinations, including San Juan, P.R.; Cancun, Mexico; Nassau, Bahamas and Brussels, Belgium. More than 150,000 hours have been volunteered to the communities US Airways serves since its inception in 1997.

A unique volunteer program partnership with Assistance Dogs International allows the airline's employees to use their flight benefits to train assistance dogs for air travel and then transport the dogs to be paired with their new companion or to an individual who will raise the dog to be an assistance animal. In 2012, 170 transports were completed and saved the organizations involved more than $125,000 in transportation costs.

Additionally, more than 100 employees participated in the airline's Flights for 50 program. Flights for 50 recognizes employees who individually and personally demonstrate their dedication to the community by volunteering at least 50 hours per calendar year for a nonprofit organization, which is then eligible to receive a $500 US Airways gift card.