Thanks a Million+! American Airlines and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF Celebrate Record-Breaking Fundraising Results

NEW YORK, March 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- American Airlines and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF are saying "thanks a million - plus!" to American's customers and employees for the record-breaking success of their 2010 fundraising efforts through UNICEF's Change for Good program on American Airlines.

More than $1.6 million was raised last year through the generosity of American Airlines customers and employee volunteers dedication – the largest sum in the program's 16-year history. American Airlines will host a celebration with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on Wednesday, March 9, at 10 a.m. EST in Terminal 8. Customers traveling through JFK on March 9 are invited to join the festivities and will also have the opportunity to donate directly to support UNICEF's Change for Good program.

"We are honored to share in the excitement of this program's success, and privileged to acknowledge the remarkable support demonstrated by American's employees and customers," said Art Torno, American's Vice President – New York. "This cause is close to the hearts of our employees, and this spirit of giving is borne out in the generosity of our customers."

UNICEF's Change for Good program on American Airlines, proudly supported by Airline Ambassadors International, is American's largest – and one of its longest-running – charitable programs, in which travelers' donations are converted into life-saving services for the world's children through UNICEF. The volunteer-based program, made up primarily of dedicated flight attendants and Admirals Club staff, empowers American Airlines employees to help make a difference for children while performing their everyday work duties.

"On behalf of the children and families that will benefit from the unwavering generosity of American Airlines customers and the incredible volunteer efforts of Champions for Children, we extend our sincere thanks," said Caryl Stern, President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. "The record-breaking funds raised through UNICEF's Change for Good program on American Airlines this past year will help UNICEF in its mission to reduce the number of preventable childhood deaths to zero."

Employee volunteers, called "Champions for Children," encourage customers on select international American Airlines flights to donate unused U.S. and foreign currencies, or to make contributions in Admirals Clubs® and Flagship Lounges® worldwide.

The funds raised through Change for Good on American Airlines support UNICEF's programs for children worldwide which provide children with health care, clean water, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. Specific areas of support for 2010 collections include:

• More than $560,000 raised to help children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in Latin America
• More than $345,000 raised to support children impacted by the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake
• More than $385,000 raised to support UNICEF's lifesaving programs around the world
• More than $315,000 to be allocated by Champions for Children, who will vote to determine where funds will be used.

To learn more about UNICEF's Change for Good program on American Airlines and about the other community initiatives American supports, visit AA.com/JoinUs.

About American Airlines

American Airlines, American Eagle and AmericanConnection® serve 250 cities in 40 countries with, on average, more than 3,400 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 900 aircraft. American's award-winning website, AA.com®, provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld® Alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members serve approximately 750 destinations in nearly 150 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, AA.com, We know why you fly and AAdvantage are trademarks of American Airlines, Inc. (NYSE: AMR)

About UNICEF

UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization in the world. Working in more than 150 countries, UNICEF provides children with health care, clean water, nutrition, education, emergency relief, and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy, and education in the United States.

UNICEF is at the forefront of efforts to reduce child mortality worldwide. There has been substantial progress: the annual number of under-five deaths dropped from 13 million in 1990 to 8.8 million in 2008. But still, 22,000 children die each day from preventable causes. Our mission is to do whatever it takes to make that number zero by giving children the essentials for a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.

Current AMR Corp. releases can be accessed on the Internet.

The address is http://www.aa.com

SOURCE American Airlines

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