More than 16 Million Minutes Logged During RIF and US Airways 'Fly with US. Read with Kids.'® Campaign

Challenge Surpasses Goal of 10 Million Minutes; Dividend Miles and Special Edition Children's Book Awarded to Supporters

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), the nation's largest children's literacy nonprofit, and US Airways (NYSE: LCC) today announced that more than 5,500 participants logged more than 16 million minutes of reading to children from September 1 through October 31, 2010, surpassing this year's goal of 10 million minutes. Participants of this campaign included parents, teachers, and others who promote the importance of reading to young children across the United States.

"US Airways is committed to helping children in communities where our employees live and work discover the joy of reading," said Doug Parker, chairman and CEO of US Airways. "Every year, the Read with Kids Challenge achieves new levels of success, and we're proud that our partnership with RIF promotes reading as a way for children to achieve their goals in life."

Since the RIF and US Airways partnership first launched in 2008, participants have logged a combined total of nearly 30 million minutes of reading with children as part of the Read with Kids Challenge.  

"RIF's partnership with US Airways continues to demonstrate that communities throughout the country realize the critical benefits associated with reading with children," said Carol H. Rasco, president and CEO of RIF. "The Read with Kids Challenge engages families and communities to help children become lifelong readers. I am delighted that more than 16 million minutes were logged in just two months, and I encourage families and communities to continue reading with kids on a regular basis."

US Airways also rewarded those who donated gifts of $50 or more to RIF with up to 5,000 Dividend Miles. With a minimum donation of $25, donors also received Maisy Takes a Trip, a special edition book by best-selling author Lucy Cousins. Overall, the campaign raised nearly $88,000 for RIF.

About US Airways

US Airways, along with US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express, operates more than 3,100 flights per day and serves more than 200 communities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Central and South America. The airline employs more than 31,000 aviation professionals worldwide and is a member of the Star Alliance network, which offers its customers 21,000 daily flights to 1,160 airports in 181 countries. Together with its US Airways Express partners, the airline serves approximately 80 million passengers each year and operates hubs in Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia and Phoenix, and a focus city in Washington, D.C. at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. US Airways was the only airline included as one of the 50 best companies to work for in the U.S. by LATINA Style magazine's 50 Report for 2010. For the sixth year in a row, the airline also earned a 100 percent rating on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality index, a leading indicator of companies' attitudes and policies toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees and customers. For more company information, visit usairways.com. (LCCG)

About RIF

Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF), founded in 1966, motivates children to read by working with them, their parents, and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. RIF's highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age 8. Through community volunteers in every state and U.S. territory, RIF provided 4.4 million children with 15 million new, free books and literacy resources last year. For more information and to access reading resources, visit RIF's website at www.rif.org.

Discover the Joy!

SOURCE Reading Is Fundamental