CHICAGO, May 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines over the past two weekends capped off a decade of supporting the March of Dimes in its mission to provide families across the country with care and valuable information on pregnancy and having healthy babies. Thousands of United employees, friends and family came out to represent the airline and participate in March for Babies walk events across the U.S. And thanks in large part to employee fundraising efforts, the airline flew past its $1.2 million fundraising goal for 2015 and is on track to double that by the end of the campaign.

United employees have helped to nearly double the company's 2015 fundraising goal. Visit United's Newsroom to download high-res image: newsroom.united.com/2015ChicagoMarchforBabies

"I'm tremendously proud of my co-workers for their commitment to the March of Dimes," said John Rainey, executive vice president and chief financial officer at United and 2015 National Chair for the March for Babies. "Each year they put an incredible amount of time and energy into fundraising and raising awareness for the organization, and what better way to celebrate 10 years of support than with our most successful fundraising efforts yet."   

Over the past 10 years, United employees have contributed more than $7 million to the March of Dimes and have walked more than 40,000 miles in March for Babies events nationwide.  

"United employees are doing a remarkable job of giving more babies a healthy start in life. The March of Dimes thanks them for their leadership in raising funds to support research and other much-needed programs for families in their communities and across the nation," said March of Dimes President Dr. Jennifer L. Howse.

About United

United Airlines and United Express operate an average of nearly 5,000 flights a day to 373 airports across six continents. In 2014, United and United Express operated nearly two million flights carrying 138 million customers. United is proud to have the world's most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates nearly 700 mainline aircraft, and this year, the airline anticipates taking delivery of 34 new Boeing aircraft, including the 787-9 and the 737-900ER. United is also welcoming 49 new Embraer E175 aircraft to United Express. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 193 countries via 27 member airlines. More than 84,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

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SOURCE United Airlines