Dream House
Delta Air Lines and Jeff Francoeur Go to Bat for Hometown Atlanta Charity
Delta Air Lines and Atlanta Braves' slugger Jeff Francoeur teamed up to go to bat for a hometown charity, Atlanta's Dream House for Medically Fragile Children, through a new charitable sponsorship called the SkyMiles Home Run Program. The Official Airline of the Atlanta Braves donated 25,000 Delta SkyMiles for each home run hit by Francoeur during the 2007 season to benefit this local charity. In 2008, Francoeur will also be working again with Dream House and a host of other local charities.
"Hitting a home run is always a big thrill, but Delta's SkyMiles Home Run Program will make each future hit even more valuable," said Francoeur, who has amassed 10 home runs through the All-Star break this season. "Helping children and families in need is very important to me, and I am honored to support the Dream House for Medically Fragile Children."
The Dream House for Medically Fragile Children will use the SkyMiles donated by Delta to fly beneficiaries and supporters of the charity – including children, families, caregivers and staff – throughout the country as they work to meet their organization's goals. Founded in 2001 as Dream House for Kids, Dream House for Medically Fragile Children is dedicated to increasing opportunities for medically fragile children to live in a stable, permanent home environment through support resources and programs that increase the number of families and communities prepared to care for them.
"Jeff Francoeur is a Braves fan favorite and, given his support of the Dream House for Medically Fragile Children, is a true hometown hero like all of those involved with this charity," said Capt. Mike Doyle, Delta's Atlanta Chief Pilot. "Through the SkyMiles Home Run Program, Braves fans and Delta customers will now have even more reason to cheer for Jeff each time he comes to the plate this year."
"Delta's SkyMiles Home Run program will greatly benefit our families and caregivers, enabling the children to fly to special medical testing centers and hospitals across the country," said Laura O. Moore, Founder and CEO of Dream House for Medically Fragile Children. "These very important SkyMiles will also help our advocacy efforts by allowing us to meet with others across the country, addressing issues on a national level that will impact the health and quality of life for all medically fragile children. We are so grateful to Delta Air Lines for its generous donation and to Jeff Francoeur for including us in this wonderful program."
Dream House for Medically Fragile Children Inc. provides education, skills training, and assistance with healthcare equipment acquisition and resource referrals, so that kinship, foster, and adoptive families can care for medically fragile children in their own 'dream home'. The Dream House Family for Keeps™ training program is the only one of its kind in the country. The program aims to dramatically reduce the number of medically fragile children in foster care, improve the quality of life for these children and their families, and save the state of Georgia, the tax payers, and healthcare institutions millions of dollars each year.
