CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 24, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Airlines is awarding $400,000 in grants to three local non-profit community organizations, demonstrating its commitment to the Charlotte community.
The grants include:
- $150,000 to Renaissance West Community Initiative (RWCI), a mixed-income housing and support community that is leading the revitalization of a West Charlotte neighborhood.
- $150,000 to Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont’s Opportunity Campus in West Charlotte, which will meet a need for disadvantaged job seekers, providing them with access to critical resources and supports under one roof.
- $100,000 to the Foundation for the Carolinas for the Carolina Theatre renovation in the heart of Charlotte. The theater will serve as a civic gathering place – hosting educational lectures, seminars, community events and more. American will also be providing AAdvantage® miles to bring in guest lecturers and other talent once the new facility is open.
American also is working with the organizations on various workforce development and volunteer opportunities for the future.
“We are honored to help support organizations that are important to our employees and focused on improving our community,” said Terri Pope, American’s vice president – CLT Hub Operations. “We plan to have a holistic approach to giving by not just providing funding, but also working with them on potential employment opportunities with American and volunteer events for our Do Crew employee volunteers. We could not be more excited about the potential, and I want to thank our 11,000 Charlotte-based employees for their many hours of service and commitment to their community.”
“We are grateful to American Airlines for its contributions to the Charlotte community and its support of social and workforce needs in our city,” said Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts. “American has been a great partner in the growth of our airport and in our city’s ability to attract multinational company expansions and relocations.”
The grants are a continuation of American’s long history of commitment to Charlotte. The airline has served the community since 1948, when predecessor carrier Piedmont Airlines began service at CLT. Over the years, the airline has expanded service to more than 140 destinations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe. Last week, American extended its commitment to its second-largest hub by signing a new 10-year lease with Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
American and the three community organizations celebrated the announcement at the Renaissance West community on Thursday, March 24 with an event that included American Do Crew employee volunteers participating in a landscape project for the neighborhood.
American’s 11,000 employees based in Charlotte operate more than 650 daily flights from the hub and work in its airport, pilot training, maintenance and cargo facilities there.
To learn more about American’s community involvement efforts, please visit aa.com/giving.
About American Airlines Group
American Airlines (Nasdaq:AAL) and American Eagle offer an average of nearly 6,700 flights per day to nearly 350 destinations in more than 50 countries. American has hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C. American is a founding member of the oneworld alliance, whose members and members-elect serve nearly 1,000 destinations with 14,250 daily flights to 150 countries. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL. In 2015, its stock joined the S&P 500 index. Connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.