ATLANTA, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) will kick off its fifth year of support for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) Sept. 29 by lighting the New York-JFK air traffic control tower in pink and honoring breast cancer survivors with a live in-flight performance by Hard Rock International PINKTOBER(TM) Ambassador Melissa Etheridge.

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Delta will be joined by Etheridge, BCRF, and representatives from The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey at 5 p.m. EDT, Sept. 29 to light the exterior of the New York-JFK air traffic control tower in pink. Immediately following the lighting ceremony, Delta will host a charter flight for employee breast cancer survivors aboard its signature "pink plane" from JFK to Washington D.C.-Reagan National Airport. While in flight, Etheridge will perform a special acoustic rendition of her hit single "I Run for Life."

"It is inspiring to our employees and customers to become increasingly involved in raising awareness and funds for this important cause," said Joanne Smith, senior vice president of In-Flight Service. "Launching this year's breast cancer awareness campaign in New York continues our growing support and presence in the city. After 'painting' JFK's control tower pink, having Melissa perform in-flight will be an emotional, heartwarming experience."

Delta's "pink" flight between New York and Washington is the first in a series of activities planned throughout October to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Thousands of Delta flight attendants will don pink t-shirts and pink versions of the airline's red dress to offer pink lemonade to customers for $2 on flights worldwide, with net proceeds benefiting BCRF. Co-branded Delta and BCRF pink products, including pink luggage tags, tumblers, aprons and pens, also will be available beginning Sept. 15 at www.deltashop.com for $2-$16 to benefit BCRF.

Delta's distinctive pink-and-white Boeing 757 aircraft, the "pink plane," featuring BCRF's trademarked pink ribbon logo on the tail of the aircraft and adjacent to the boarding door, first took flight in 2005. Since then, it has flown throughout the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean to generate awareness for the cause. In that time, Delta has raised nearly $1.5 million for BCRF through donations from customers, employees and The Delta Foundation, the airline's charitable organization. The donations have funded the work of five researchers dedicated to the mission of achieving prevention and finding a cure for breast cancer.

About the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation® was founded in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder as an independent, not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to funding innovative clinical and translational research. The Foundation supports scientists at top universities and academic medical centers worldwide conducting the most advanced and promising breast cancer research that will lead to prevention and a cure in our lifetime. A minimum of 85 cents of each dollar donated to the Foundation goes directly to breast cancer research and awareness programs. In October 2007, $32 million was awarded to 151 scientists across the United States and in Canada, Latin America, the Middle East, and throughout Europe. Money magazine named BCRF one of America's eight top charities. And for the seventh consecutive year, BCRF received Charity Navigator's highest rating, four stars, thus outperforming over 99% of the evaluated charities, while the American Institute of Philanthropy has awarded BCRF its highest possible rating of A+. BCRF is the only breast cancer organization in the U.S. to receive these accolades. For more information, visit www.bcrfcure.org or call 1.866.FIND.A.CURE.

About Delta

Delta Air Lines is the world's No. 1 airline. From its hubs in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Salt Lake City, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Amsterdam and Tokyo-Narita, Delta, its Northwest subsidiary and Delta Connection carriers offer service to 376 destinations in 67 countries and serve more than 170 million passengers each year. Delta's marketing alliances allow customers to earn and redeem either SkyMiles or WorldPerks on more than 16,000 daily flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta's more than 70,000 employees worldwide are reshaping the aviation industry as the only U.S. airline to offer a full global network. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and flight status at delta.com.

SOURCE Delta Air Lines