FORT WORTH, Texas, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin Corp. [NYSE: LMT] has made a gift to support Challenge Air for Kids & Friends (Challenge Air), an organization that seeks to build the self-esteem and confidence of children and youth with special needs through the experience of flight and participation in educational aviation programs.

"We're proud to support an organization that opens up the world of aviation to so many kids," said Jim Derr Lockheed Martin Flight Service Program Director. "Our employees in Ft. Worth regularly donate their time to Challenge Air. We were happy to be able to contribute financially to the organization this year as well. We hope this funding will enable Challenge Air to continue to inspire a passion for aviation in the youth community."

Lockheed Martin employees have been volunteering with Challenge Air since 2006. They provide flight service as well as general support at Challenge Air events throughout the United States.

"We are grateful to Lockheed Martin for its continued support. Lockheed Martin employees are some of the hardest working volunteers that we have at our events. It's no wonder that a company that shares the integrity of these individuals would want to sponsor this program as well," said Cindy Waggoner, Challenge Air Program Director. "We're thrilled to partner with Lockheed Martin to touch more lives than ever before."

Since 1993, Challenge Air has enriched the lives of children and youth with special needs through its unique aviation programs. Challenge Air's mission reflects the life-changing impact the flight experience has on children, families, donors, sponsors and communities as a whole. As Challenge Air continues to grow and add more programs across the country, its mission will remain true: to continue to provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to special needs children and youth through the gift of flight.

Established in 1993, Challenge Air for Kids and Friends has inspired over 28,500 physically challenged children in thirty-six states. For more information about Challenge Air please visit: www.challengeair.org.  

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 136,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's 2009 sales from continuing operations were $44.5 billion. For additional information, please visit: http://www.lockheedmartin.com.

SOURCE Lockheed Martin