Communities

Social Impact & Community Engagement

Social Impact & Community Engagement

Community IconOur commitment to “Caring for the World We Carry” conveys our dedication to the places where our business takes us. By engaging our workforce and contributing to efforts locally and across the globe, we are delivering on the desire for our communities to thrive. Atlas Air Worldwide is committed to enhancing lives in the communities where we live and work across the globe.

Our Philosophy for Promoting Social Impact and Positive Change

To align our business strategy and logistics expertise with impactful initiatives that make a difference across the world, our community impact mission is focused on four areas of critical need:

  • Supporting U.S. Service Members, Veterans and Their Families
  • Enabling Students to Achieve in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Learning
  • Environmental Stewardship
  • Being There When Our Communities Need Us – Locally and Globally

Supporting U.S. Military Personnel and Their Families

We are honored to support the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. As the largest provider of military passenger and cargo airlift globally to U.S. service members, we consistently demonstrate our ability to meet stringent, military-level reliability standards and offer full capacity at peak levels of demand.

Enabling Students to Achieve in STEM Learning

Atlas is invested in developing and strengthening the pipeline of diverse, qualified STEM talent needed to ensure the aviation industry remains strong for years to come. We nurture relationships with a variety of institutions of higher learning, including Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology in New York, ranked #1 in upward mobility nationwide. Vaughn provides a distinct education to a diverse population of students in an environment that cultivates personal growth and leadership, creating lifelong learners who make significant contributions to the aviation industry. Other initiatives include:

Ignite Institute: Ignite Institute is a high school in Northern Kentucky specializing in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) curriculum.

ACE (Aviation Careers Education) Academy: Atlas Air and Polar were significant contributors to a program for high school and middle school students who want to learn about possible careers in the aviation industry.

Scholarships for aspiring aviators: Atlas Air and Polar sponsored scholarships to benefit youth who wish to pursue a career in aviation through the Los Angeles-based Flight Path Museum & Learning Center.

Junior Achievement Career Speaker Series: We have a long-standing relationship with Junior Achievement of New York Lower Hudson Valley, whose purpose is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in the global economy.

Environmental Stewardship

In 2021, Atlas Air and Polar employees in Hong Kong participated in the Swire Properties Smart Waste Reduction Pilot Program, with the goal of reducing our office waste. The Atlas Air and Polar teams were recognized by Swire, our real estate manager in Hong Kong, with the following awards:

  • Lowest Total Waste Per Employee – Silver
  • Lowest Contamination – Silver

Atlas Air and Polar Hong Kong teams joined forces with Rooftop Republic to grow seasonal vegetables on the One Citygate office rooftop. Together with other building tenants, the team grew nearly 550 pounds of produce and at least 55 varieties of summer and winter crops. Over 170 pounds of the harvest was donated to Feeding Hong Kong, which is a food bank network dedicated to rescuing surplus nutritious food from retailers, manufacturers and distributors to redistributing amongst charities that help feed people in need.

Being There When Our Communities Need Us

As one of the world’s largest air carriers, we have a unique ability to expedite the movement of large quantities of goods and personnel to regions that need them most in the aftermath of a natural disaster or during a public health emergency. In response to crises in the U.S. and around the world, our teams have mobilized humanitarian relief efforts to deliver lifesaving supplies and disaster recovery items – including drinking water, medical supplies and equipment, living essentials, food and battery-powered devices.

Providing Humanitarian Relief
  • Since access to infrastructure and care continues to make the road to COVID-19 recovery in India challenging, Atlas partnered with multiple customers and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to support relief efforts. Our support includes ongoing partnership with Airlink. Airlink works with aviation and logistics companies to transport relief workers and emergency supplies for reputable NGOs responding to rapid-onset disasters and other humanitarian crises around the world.
  • Atlas was proud to support the U.S. military’s Afghanistan evacuation efforts as part of the activation of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF). In support of Operation Allies Refuge, Atlas operated relocation flights for the repatriation of U.S. citizens and Afghan nationals and their families eligible for U.S. Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), carrying over 10,000 passengers on 31 flights.
  • Atlas made donations to the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund. The fund was established by Kentucky Governor Beshear to help citizens impacted by a devastating long-track tornado in December that caused severe damage and multiple fatalities across 168 miles and 11 counties in Kentucky.
Ice Packs for Injured Kids

When an Atlas benefits mailer that included sun safety tips and an airplane shaped ice pack was sent out, a registered nurse and wife of one of our pilots had an idea. She knew the airplane-shaped ice pack could make a big difference for pediatric patients who require post-surgery care. Within one week of receiving the benefits promotional package, Atlas donated 1,600 Atlas airplane-shaped ice packs to Mercy One.