American Airlines 'rallies' for the Jimmy Fund

February 13, 2009

American Airlines, the official airline partner of the Jimmy Fund, is stepping up to the plate and going deep in its support for the Jimmy Fund. American and its more than 900 employees at Boston's Logan International Airport will be entering a team in the Jimmy Fund's 2009 Rally Against Cancer^SM.

"For 26 years, American Airlines has been a true friend to cancer patients through its generous support of the Jimmy Fund and its mission to fight cancer," said Jimmy Fund Chairman Mike Andrews. "In addition to its ongoing corporate support, I am thrilled and honored that American Airlines is encouraging its employees to volunteer in Jimmy Fund events like Rally Against Cancer and to see firsthand why their support is so critical."

"Through our quarter-century partnership, we have witnessed first-hand the lifesaving work conducted by Dana-Farber physicians, researchers and clinicians," said Jim Carter, Eastern Division Vice President at American. "We will continue to support their efforts until the ultimate goal has been met: a world without cancer."

Rally Against Cancer, established in 2006, encourages Red Sox fans to partner with their companies and schools as well as their coworkers, classmates and friends to contribute at least $5 each to the Jimmy Fund in exchange for the opportunity to wear Red Sox clothing to work or school on Opening Day at Fenway Park. The top fundraising company and school will be rewarded with a grand prize visit from a Red Sox player. This year's Rally Against Cancer campaign begins Feb. 20 and runs through April 6, when the Red Sox take on the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. 

American's relationship with the Jimmy Fund dates back to 1983, when it began supporting the Jimmy Fund Golf program, and American is now a presenting sponsor. The Jimmy Fund Golf program is one of the nation's oldest and largest charity golf programs, and in the past 26 years has raised more than $60 million to support cancer care and research at Dana-Farber.

Founded in 1948, the Jimmy Fund has been an official charity of the Boston Red Sox since 1953. It supports the fight against cancer at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, which is a leading cancer research and care center for adults and children. Unrestricted support from the Jimmy Fund is an integral part of Mission Possible: The Dana-Farber Campaign to Conquer Cancer, a $1 billion capital campaign to accelerate cancer research, speed development of life-saving therapies, and expand the Institute's signature patient- and family-centered care.