For Delta Air Lines, the fight against breast cancer extends beyond fundraising and pink ribbons; it’s reaching into the lives of the employees and passengers affected by the disease.
The Atlanta-based airline is marking 21 years of partnership with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) during Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October. Together, the organizations have raised more than $36 million and helped fund over 720,000 hours of research while expanding employee access to preventive care, education and support.
Kristen Manion Taylor, Delta’s senior vice president of brand experience and executive sponsor of the partnership, said the commitment reflects the disease’s widespread impact.
“We know that so many of our employees and our customers that we serve are touched and impacted by this horrible disease,” Taylor said.
The funding supports researchers investigating new approaches to breast cancer detection and treatment, including artificial intelligence applications that could help identify patterns in medical scans and research into whether certain patients can safely avoid chemotherapy.
Taylor said the goal is to develop more personalized treatment options that account for individual patients’ needs and risks.
Beyond research, Delta has expanded its efforts to support employees navigating a diagnosis. The airline provides in-network mammograms at no additional cost through its medical plans, including mobile mammography services at designated locations in Atlanta and Minneapolis.
Employees affected by cancer can also join Hope Thrives, an employee-led support group that connects people undergoing treatment, survivors and those supporting loved ones.
“I think when you get a diagnosis, again, whether it’s yourself or somebody in your family, it can be a really lonely moment. It can be an overwhelming moment,” Taylor said.
For Taylor, that experience is personal.
In October 2020, she became executive sponsor of Delta’s partnership with BCRF. Just one month later, she was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.
Taylor underwent treatment at Emory in Atlanta in early 2021 and has been cancer-free for approximately four and a half years. Two of her doctors were BCRF-funded researchers.
During treatment, Taylor shared her diagnosis with the flight attendants she was leading at the time. The response included letters, meals and even pink boxing gloves delivered to her home.
“What I realized was how many people this disease impacts. How many people needed and wanted support and information,” Taylor said.
Her experience also deepened her connection to Delta’s annual Breast Cancer One charter, which brings together employees who have survived breast cancer or are undergoing treatment.
The 15th annual charter, held Oct. 7-9, flew from Atlanta to Las Vegas, bringing employees together for activities, conversations with BCRF researchers and opportunities to build relationships with colleagues facing similar experiences.
“What I hear after the flight, talking to people who participate in the flight, is that they make lifelong friendships,” Taylor said.
Delta also encourages employees and passengers to participate in fundraising throughout October. Employees can wear pink uniform accessories, while proceeds from select onboard purchases support BCRF.
During October, 100 percent of onboard pink beverage sales and 25% of other onboard purchases go toward the foundation, according to Taylor. Employees can also organize fundraising campaigns throughout the year.
Still, Taylor emphasized that raising money is only part of the effort. She encouraged other Atlanta employers to prioritize preventive care and create supportive environments for employees affected by serious illnesses.
“It’s a way to show your employees that you care about their well-being,” Taylor said.
Looking ahead, Taylor hopes the partnership will contribute to improved treatments, earlier detection and a better understanding of disparities in breast cancer outcomes.
For Taylor, whose own treatment involved researchers supported by the foundation she now helps champion, the mission remains both professional and personal.
“We’re part of the communities that we serve, whether that’s because of our employees, our customers, or both,” Taylor said. “It is absolutely critical that you find those causes, find those missions that make a difference in the well-being of the communities you serve.”
