ATLANTA, Nov. 1, 2016 /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 third 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. In 2015, the airline and its customers donated a total of 27.5
million miles, which was nearly 6 million more miles than in 2014. Fisher House Foundation received 20.6 million miles, while
Luke's Wings received 6.9 million miles.
"Delta is proud to partner with our customers to give back to the men and women who have sacrificed so much for others,"
Tad Hutcheson, Delta's Managing Director – Community Affairs. "Through this partnership, we are
able to aid in the healing process, reuniting injured veterans and service members with their loved ones."
The Fisher House program provides 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 held its official ribbon cutting 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 ones during the service member's
hospitalization. Since its inception in 2008, Luke's Wings has booked one-third of its flights using miles donated from Delta's
SkyWish program. These flights include recurring flights for families to travel back and forth from medical centers,
quick-turnaround flights for emergency procedures, and domestic and international flights. The organization services the families
of wounded warriors and veterans in hospice care. Luke's Wings recognized Delta for its impact on the community at its 2015 and
2016 Annual Heroes Galas.
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.
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 $320 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.
www.fisherhouse.org
About Luke's Wings
Luke's Wings was created in 2008 as 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. In 2012, Luke's Wings
expanded their program to aid veterans in hospice care by providing flights for loved ones to be bedside as the service member
transitions; serving as a final salute to service.
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.
lukeswings.org/
About Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines serves nearly 180 million customers each year. In 2016, Delta was named to Fortune's top 50 Most
Admired Companies in addition to being named the most admired airline for the fifth time in six years. Additionally, Delta has
ranked No.1 in the Business Travel News Annual Airline survey for an unprecedented five consecutive years. With an
industry-leading global network, Delta and the
Delta Connection carriers offer service to 319 destinations in 57 countries on six continents. Headquartered
in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 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 transatlantic 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 and LaGuardia, London-Heathrow, 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, and Facebook.com/delta.
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SOURCE Delta Air Lines