This November, Delta Air Lines is honoring veterans, active service members and their families by matching customer-donated miles to Fisher House Foundation's Hero Miles program and Luke's Wings up to a total of 10 million miles through SkyWish, the charitable arm of SkyMiles — Delta's loyalty program.
Using miles donated through SkyWish, Fisher House Foundation's Hero Miles program and Luke's Wings can connect members of the military and their loved ones while they undergo treatment and recovery by providing air travel to injured, ill or wounded service members and veterans, along with their families. Over the past three years, Delta and its customers have donated more than 138 million miles to these organizations.
"We are extremely grateful to the men and women who currently serve and have served our country. This November and throughout the year, Delta is proud to support members of the military and their families," Tad Hutcheson, Delta's Managing Director — Community Engagement. "The need is great when it comes to travel assistance for these heroes and their families. Through our partnerships with Fisher House Foundation and Luke's Wings, and working alongside our customers, we are able to connect injured service members and veterans with their families as they undergo medical treatment."
Serving more than 28,000 families in 2016 alone, Fisher House Foundation provides "a home away from home" for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers, by hosting them at no cost at one of the 72 Fisher Houses throughout the United States and Europe. Delta has also supported construction of the VA Long Beach Fisher House in Long Beach, Calif., and a second Fisher House facility at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Seattle. Additionally, Delta employees volunteer at Fisher Houses across the country, bringing cheer to the families staying there.
Since its inception in 2008, Luke's Wings has enabled families to travel to be with their loved ones during hospitalization and treatment of post-9/11 combat wounded service members, both domestically and internationally. In 2017, Luke's Wings expanded its mission to service the loved ones of wounded, ill and injured service members recovering at military medical centers, as well as combat injured veterans who need travel to treatment facilities for follow-on care. To date, Luke's Wings has booked one third of its flights using miles donated through Delta's SkyWish program.
Supporting active military and veterans is a key pillar of community engagement at Delta. Along with Fisher House Foundation and Luke's Wings, Delta also supports the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, Marine Toys for Tots, Serving Our Troops, the USO and airport military lounges, including the Freedom Center in Detroit and the Minnesota Armed Forces Service Center. Alongside other volunteer opportunities, employees can volunteer as a part of the Honor Guard, a group that meets incoming flights and pays respect to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. In addition, about 3,000 Delta employees are members of the U.S. Armed Forces and approximately 10,000 veterans are employed at Delta.
To review the SkyWish program terms and conditions and to donate miles, go to www.delta.com/veterans.
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