Delta Air Lines and The Delta Air Lines Foundation to invest more than $16.5 million in charitable giving to Clayton County, Georgia

Delta Air Lines and The Delta Air Lines Foundation will deliver more than $16.5 million in charitable support over the next five years to Clayton County, GA, a Metro Atlanta community near Delta’s headquarters and the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Clayton County is a vibrant and diverse community of nearly 300,000 Georgians, including more than 3,000 Delta people, and is an important talent pipeline for Delta’s future workforce. 

Grants totaling $13.5 million from The Delta Air Lines Foundation will support Clayton County Public Schools through a new Junior Achievement Discovery Center, the Flint River Boys and Girls Club, and scholarships for Clayton County students who wish to build a career in aviation.

Additionally, Delta Air Lines will provide $3 million in charitable contributions to Clayton County to support workforce development resources through the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce, increased investment in Aerotropolis to improve the County’s economic competitiveness, and funds to establish a Donor Advised Fund at the Community Foundation which will go to support additional Clayton County non-profits. 

“Delta’s mission to connect the world starts with our commitment to the communities where we live, work and serve,” said Delta Chief External Affairs Officer Peter Carter and trustee of The Delta Air Lines Foundation. “Delta shares Clayton County Public Schools’ mission of providing its students with unmatched opportunities and it’s why we are honored to provide the funding that will give students an opportunity to learn real-world and essential business skills in a simulated environment while inspiring the next generation of aviation professionals.”

The Clayton County Delta Junior Achievement Discovery Center will be a world-class facility where Clayton County students can participate in hands-on simulations to learn about real-world skills such as financial literacy, business readiness and entrepreneurship. The Discovery Center will also include a digital career exploration center. To support the project, $10 million in Foundation grants will be divided between the Clayton County Public Schools Foundation and Junior Achievement of Georgia. The Discovery Center will be in the new Convocation Center currently under construction at Southlake Mall and managed by CCPSF. 

In addition, Middle Georgia State University’s School of Aviation, a four-year school with FAA-certified programs, will receive $2.5 million in Foundation grants for scholarships for Clayton County students who graduate from one of the 12 Clayton County public high schools and demonstrate an aptitude for aviation. Students who meet the requirements of admission to Middle Georgia State will have the opportunity to apply for competitive scholarships that award up to full tuition, fees and flying instruction for the four years the student is enrolled. 

Middle Georgia State is one of nearly a dozen universities across the country that are part of Delta’s industry-leading Propel Pilot Career Path Program, which offers students a streamlined path to the flight deck with mentorship from Delta’s pilots every step of the way. Students who successfully complete the program are given a qualified job offer with Delta, and Delta’s wholly owned subsidiary, Endeavor Air.

“The children of Clayton County are our best and brightest, and investing in their future is in our enlightened self-interest," said Georgia Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. "I am grateful to see this new investment and look forward to continuing and expanding the partnership between Delta and Clayton County for years to come."

"I am appreciative of Delta’s meaningful support of Clayton County and especially the Clayton County Schools Foundation and Junior Achievement of Georgia,” said Clayton County Board Chairwoman Dr. Alieka Anderson-Henry. “Clayton County, which sits adjacent to Delta’s headquarters and includes the world’s busiest airport has long played an important role in the airport’s operations. I am excited about the future of our relationship with Delta and the opportunities these grants will provide for our county and our students.”

"Relationships truly matter and I’m thankful to Delta for their partnership with us,” said Georgia state Rep. Yasmin Neal (D-Jonesboro). “This investment is a huge blessing for Clayton County and it has been a pleasure to watch it come to fruition. I look forward to continuing to work with Delta and hope to bring more resources to our county through our great partnership.”

With today’s announcement, The Delta Air Lines Foundation and Delta Air Lines will have committed more than $33 million to Clayton County in charitable giving over the past six years. 

In 2018, a $16 million grant was awarded from The Delta Air Lines Foundation to Clayton County Public Schools which provided meaningful support for the school system and reiterated Delta’s commitment to investing in the local communities where we operate.

The Delta Air Lines Foundation is a nonprofit corporation formed in 1968 to enhance Delta’s charitable giving. The Foundation is focused on the key areas of environment, equity, education and entire wellness. In the past decade, the Foundation has awarded more than $130 million in grants to nonprofit organizations across the United States. 

"I’m proud to see Delta Air Lines investing in the community that helps power its success, especially our young people who will shape the future of aviation and beyond,” said U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams (GA-05). “This philanthropic commitment will open doors for students across Clayton County, and I look forward to seeing the lasting influence of these investments.”

"Clayton County Public Schools is thrilled about this expanding partnership with Delta Air Lines and The Delta Air Lines Foundation,” said CCPS Superintendent Dr. Anthony W. Smith. “Investing in our students today strengthens tomorrow’s workforce and economy. With nearly half of our schools recently recognized by the Governor's Office of Student Achievement for Beating the Odds, this collaboration accelerates our mission to ensure 100% of students graduate with No Dead Ends. I commend Delta for investing in a school system poised to transform our local economy with graduates ready to work, lead, and thrive. Our very talented and capable students just need a chance—and this partnership, along with the Junior Achievement Discovery Center, will be a game-changer for our community and beyond!"

“We are deeply grateful to The Delta Air Lines Foundation for this extraordinary investment in what will be Junior Achievement of Georgia’s seventh JA Discovery Center,” said John Hancock, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of Georgia. “Thanks to this strategic partnership with Delta and Clayton County Public Schools, an estimated 25,000 south side students will annually participate in this center’s programs designed to increase economic opportunity and mobility. The addition of this project will bring JA’s overall outreach to 60-plus percent of Georgia’s middle school students.”

The Delta Air Lines Foundation five-year grant schedule to Clayton County and Delta Air Lines five-year charitable contributions plan to Clayton County includes funding for: