Web Desk
FORT WORTH, Texas: Through this year’s annual fundraising campaign with Stand Up To Cancer® (SU2C), American Airlines raised more than $4.3 million for innovative and life-saving cancer research, the most successful fundraising campaign the airline has completed since joining forces with SU2C in 2016.
Stand Up To Cancer enables scientific breakthroughs by funding collaborative, multidisciplinary and multi-institutional scientific cancer research teams and investigators. Over its eight-year collaboration, American has raised more than $31 million to benefit SU2C and its mission to raise awareness and fund research to detect and treat cancers with the aspiration to cure all patients.
“It’s truly humbling to see the generosity of our team members and customers who came together to raise more than $4.3 million in the fight against cancer,” said Ron DeFeo, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer at American. “We are proud to play a role in supporting SU2C’s critical mission and facilitating the largest single campaign contribution to Stand Up To Cancer since the launch of our collaboration in 2016.”
Since the campaign kicked off Aug. 15, customers earned 25 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles for every dollar donated. Additionally, anyone who used their American Airlines AAdvantage® Mastercard® credit card when donating earned 50 AAdvantage® bonus miles per dollar, up to $3 million in total donations.
American also supported SU2C throughout the six-week campaign through various initiatives. The campaign kicked off with a powerful public service announcement featuring SU2C celebrity ambassador Rosario Dawson alongside American team members affected by cancer.
To further highlight the campaign and give customers an opportunity to support its important cause, American launched a limited-edition SU2C specialty amenity kit created in collaboration with sustainable fashion brand Raven + Lily.
American team members whose lives were impacted by cancer also participated in an on-field recognition at a Texas Rangers baseball game and a Chicago Cubs baseball game. Each game featured a SU2C Placard Moment™, where audience members and players took a moment to recognize who they were standing up for.
Throughout the campaign, American also highlighted inspiring stories, including the friendship between a team member and a customer that started at an Admirals club. The friends, whose relationship spans 30 years, supported each other through their cancer journeys.
“Within our lifetime, cures for some cancers are not only possible, but likely; and together with American Airlines and their generous customers, we are closer to making that future a reality,” said Rusty Robertson, Co-Founder of Stand Up To Cancer. “We are so grateful to American Airlines for standing with us to find answers to cancer’s most urgent challenges and for bringing hope to those who need it now.”
American Airlines is committed to caring for people on life’s journey. For more information about the ways American gives back to the community, visit aa.com/letgoodtakeflight.
