United Raises Miles for Dozens of Non-Profits that Rely on Travel

Rhea-AI Summary

United Airlines launched a campaign inviting MileagePlus members to donate miles to nearly 40 non-profits through its Miles on a Mission platform. The initiative aims to raise over 11 million miles for organizations like the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and Compass to Care, which provide essential travel for health care and education needs. United will match the first 125,000 miles for each participating non-profit. Since October 2019, the program has raised over 92 million miles, supporting numerous charitable causes during the pandemic.

Positive

• Launched campaign to raise over 11 million miles for nearly 40 non-profits.
• United will match donations up to 125,000 miles per organization.
• Miles on a Mission has raised over 92 million miles since October 2019.

Negative

• None.

CHICAGO, Dec. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- United is inviting MileagePlus members to give back on Giving Tuesday and throughout the holiday season by donating miles to nearly 40 non-profits through United Airline's crowdsourcing platform, Miles on a Mission. Non-profits like Thurgood Marshall College Fund, College to Congress and Compass to Care are attempting to raise a total of more than 11 million miles to be used for travel for life-saving health care, continued education, humanitarian aid and more. United will match the first 125,000 miles raised for each of these organizations to help ensure they meet their goals.      

"This year has posed unprecedented challenges for us all and has been especially devastating to some of the most vulnerable members within the communities we serve," said Suzi Cabo, managing director of global community engagement, United Airlines. "The need for charitable giving has not stopped during the pandemic, and neither has United. This Giving Tuesday marks an opportunity for us to all come together for the greater good and we are proud to provide a platform to support organizations with upcoming travel needs that will enable them to continue supporting the communities they serve."

The launch of these campaigns is part of United's ongoing Miles on a Mission program, which began in October 2019 and has raised more than 92 million miles to-date. Past campaigns have helped organizations travel children for life-saving medical treatment and unite parents with newly adopted children from foreign countries. Participating non-profits have 28-days to reach their mile raising goals through the platform.

The organizations that are raising miles in this campaign include:

• College to Congress: The organization provides support including travel for disadvantaged college students who otherwise could not afford to intern in Washington, D.C.
• Thurgood Marshall College Fund: This is the only national organization representing America's 47 publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and the nearly 300,000 students that attend them each year. The miles raised will cover the travel expenses to and from campus for students unable to afford them. 
• My Block, My Hood, My City: This organization provides underprivileged youth with an awareness of the world and opportunities beyond their neighborhood. Miles will be used to fund educational trips for Chicago youths to help them gain a greater understanding of the world outside of their comfort zones.
• Compass to Care: The non-profit ensures all children, whose parents have a financial need, can access life-saving cancer treatment. Compass to Care is raising miles to fund travel to get children from their homes to hospitals for cancer treatment.
• Luke's Wings: This organization is dedicated to the support of service members who have been wounded in battle. Raised miles will be used to purchase plane tickets for families to visit wounded soldiers recovering in Army medical centers.
• Rainbow Railroad USA: The organization's mission is to help persecuted LGBTQI+ individuals around the world travel to safety as they seek a haven from persecution. Miles will support the organization's core Emergency Travel Support program.

This year, United's legal partner Kirkland & Ellis will also be donating $50,000 to My Block, My Hood, My City and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Other organizations launching campaigns on the platform include: Sisters of the Skies, Inc., Up2Us Sports, Airline Ambassadors International, Austin Smiles, AWS Foundation, Crazy Horse Memorial, FLYTE, Higher Orbits, Lily's Hope Foundation, Miles4Migrants, Support Utila Inc. and Watts of Love. MileagePlus members can also donate to United's 20 other existing partner charities including, Airlink, American Red Cross, Make-A-Wish, Shriners Hospitals; Clean the World, Special Olympics and more. To learn more or donate to these organizations, please visit donate.mileageplus.com.

Visit www.united.com/everyactioncounts to learn more about our pledge to put our people and planes to work for the greater good.

About United

United's shared purpose is "Connecting People. Uniting the World." For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter and Instagram or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Airlines Holdings, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol "UAL".

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-raises-miles-for-dozens-of-non-profits-that-rely-on-travel-301182785.html

SOURCE United Airlines

FAQ

What is the 'Miles on a Mission' program by UAL?

The 'Miles on a Mission' program allows MileagePlus members to donate miles to various non-profits, helping them cover travel costs for essential services.

How many miles does United Airlines aim to raise in this new campaign?

United Airlines aims to raise over 11 million miles for nearly 40 non-profits through this campaign.

Is United Airlines matching donations made to non-profits?

Yes, United Airlines will match the first 125,000 miles contributed to each participating non-profit.

When did the 'Miles on a Mission' program start?

The 'Miles on a Mission' program began in October 2019.

What types of organizations are involved in United's mileage campaign?

Organizations involved include the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Compass to Care, and College to Congress, among others.