Angel Flight West

Join Us for an Unforgettable Night of Luxury and Philanthropy! ?? Date: March 22, 2025 ?? Location: Southwest Aero Hangars, Scottsdale, AZ ? What to Expect: ?? Live Music ?? Stunning Art, Exotic Cars, and Jet Displays ?? Gourmet Food & Premium Cocktails ?? Live and Silent Auctions featuring incredible trips, dining experiences, and artwork ?? Proceeds Benefit Angel Flight West & JET CENTER FOUNDATION ??? Tickets are Limited — Secure Yours Now! Join us as a sponsor, guest, or volunteer for an evening that makes a difference! Thank you to JET CENTER FOUNDATION for hosting this incredible event in support of the gift of flight. Get your tickets and learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gEfSpWUV

Announcing New Board Chair and Board Members! ? New Board Chair: Emily Deaton Emily Deaton is the Chief Executive Officer of jetAVIVA, one of the world’s largest private jet sales organizations by total annual transaction volume. She's also been an AFW Board Member since 2023, and we're thrilled to have her serve in this leadership role. ? Emily says, “It’s an honor to serve as the new Board Chair for Angel Flight West. Our mission of delivering health and hope through donated flights is more vital than ever, and I look forward to working alongside our incredible team and Board to expand our reach, strengthen partnerships, and enhance the resources that allow us to serve even more passengers in need.”? ? New Board Members: Richard Conti and Chris Little Richard?T.?Conti?is?a private equity operating partner and community service professional.?A licensed pilot, Rich has been an AFW volunteer since 1997 and previously served as a board member. Rich says, “Angel Flight West has been an important part of my life for almost thirty years.? Our mission is exceptionally compelling, and it is so gratifying to be part of the volunteer team that delivers help and hope through free flights for those in need.”? ? Chris is the Chief Marketing Officer of Desert Jet Group, LLC, a premier full-service business aviation company in Palm Springs, CA. Chris has also volunteered with AFW for over six years. She says, “I am truly honored and excited to join the board of directors for Angel Flight West. This role will enable me to make a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals who urgently need access to vital medical care and essential services.” We send a sincere thank you to former board members ?Mark Wolper?(previous board chair),?Trevor Moody, and Zach Spear? for their service. Their unwavering dedication to the gift of flight has enabled AFW to reach new heights, and we're grateful for their guidance and commitment to our cause.? ? Read more about Emily, Rich, and Chris here:? https://lnkd.in/eZW4Mzqs

A huge thank you to the Tate Family Foundation for their generous support! Pictured here, Command Pilot Richard Weaver, who recently completed his 21st mission, flying Lucy from her home in Vernal, UT, to her specialized care in Peoria, AZ. Lucy has been gifted with six Angel Flights to date, saving her the stress of more than 11 hours and 700 miles on the road. With the Tate Family Foundation’s help, Angel Flight West completed 243 missions in Utah in 2024, ensuring that patients can bridge the gap between health and hope. We're so grateful to our supporters and volunteers for making an incredible difference.

Check out this interview with AFW Command Pilots Kerry MacPherson and Adam Robb along with AFW's passenger Margo at Falcon Field Airport. Margo has been flying with AFW since 2023 with 61 angel flights to date to access her care at Banner Health. Make sure to listen to her story in the link below! Another thank you to our friends at Cunningham Aviation LLC for giving the crew space to film. We're grateful to have excellent FBO partners in Arizona and beyond! https://lnkd.in/ejZxmi8N

A huge thank you to the Cooke Foundation for their generous support! Because of their generosity, patients in Hawai’i can access the critical health care they need. Pictured here, Command Pilot Ace Ellinwood flew AFW passenger Jerry and his son Mikey from Kona to Queen’s Medical Center for Jerry’s essential cancer treatment. Since 2022, Jerry has received 67 total Angel Flights, 27 of them flown by Ace, making a significant difference in his medical journey. Jerry and his wife Annie recently shared, “We’re so grateful to Angel Flight West. We feel so blessed. We could never have anticipated the love and support we have gotten from so many during this rough road in our lives. We are truly grateful!” With the Cooke Foundation’s help, Angel Flight West completed 176 missions in Hawai’i in 2024, ensuring that patients get the support they need, no matter where they are. We're so grateful to our supporters and volunteers for making an incredible difference.

Make your plans today to join us on May 9 at the California Science Center for the 2025 Endeavor Awards! This annual fundraiser celebrates and honors our community members and volunteer pilots, recognizing their extraordinary contributions to charitable aviation. The event also provides vital support to other organizations that facilitate charitable flights for those in need. Get your tickets today at endeavorawards.org. This year’s theme, “For the Love of Flight,” emphasizes the unique bonds formed between our passengers, their families, and the compassionate volunteers who deliver the gift of flight. We're excited to honor this year’s volunteer pilots and aerospace heroes at the 2025 Endeavor Awards, celebrating their dedication and impact in the skies: Mark Baker, Past CEO of AOPA The Polaris Program Dawn Crew Aerial Firefighters & First Responders Volunteer Pilot Mike Evans of Angel Flight West Volunteer Pilot Lisa Fusano of @Aviation Explorers Post 747 Sponsor, become an auction donor, or purchase tickets today! Thank you to our current sponsors: Alaska Airlines AOPA UCLA Health Aviation Tax Consultants The Zemeckis Foundation Bill Banta Cirrus Aircraft jetAVIVA Garmin Eric and Becky Chadwick Dassault Falcon Jet Seattle Children's EAA AJ Publications Air Care Alliance

Calling all #pilots! Be sure to check out the latest safety article from AFW's Safety Officer Bruce Poulton as he discusses his view of the term "missions." Bruce says, "Angel Flight West has the ‘mission’ of arranging transportation for patients and family members who need to travel long distances for care. AFW volunteer pilots sign up for ‘missions’ to provide flights for these folks. But should we call these volunteer flights ‘missions’?" Let us know what you think in the article below!

Each day, our commercial airline partners keep our passengers soaring. In 2024, our partner JSX generously donated 30 tickets, ensuring patients have access to their essential care. One of those recent passengers is Maria. She's flown with AFW's volunteer pilots and JSX a total of 34 times to access her vital care. Maria reached out to our team to say, “With the help of Angel Flight West, I have flown with JSX a couple of times to get to UCLA Health for my treatment. I’m so thankful and grateful to JSX for their great service, staff, and for accommodating me on my way to chemotherapy appointments.” "When weather, or other circumstances, keeps our pilots grounded, JSX is eager to step in to lend a hand — and a flight — to help," says AFW Associate Executive Director Cheri Cimmarrusti. "We are incredibly grateful for their years of support." Thank you, JSX, for always being there when we need you most.

Calling all Arizona friends and supporters! Join us on Saturday, March 22 for an unforgettable evening benefiting Angel Flight West! The Arizona Jet Center Hangar Party includes a reception, an elegant dinner, an open bar, and live music in a glamorous setting. Experience the thrill of mingling among exotic and collector cars, all while supporting the vital mission of Angel Flight West. Your ticket unlocks a night to remember, complete with top-tier entertainment and the chance to make a difference in the lives of those in need. Join us for a night of elegance and generosity, where every moment is as priceless as the cause you support. Click here to learn more and get your tickets: https://lnkd.in/gFWZ2u5g Thank you to our friends at JET CENTER FOUNDATION and Cutter Aviation for the ongoing support of our mission!

Outreach is at the heart of AFW's mission, and our team works tirelessly to build vital connections with healthcare professionals across 12 Western states. We’re grateful for the volunteers, partners, and team members who make these relationships possible! Today, we’re highlighting three of those incredible leaders (pictured from left to right from a photo taken at AFW's 2025 Strategic Planning Retreat): ?? Russell Stearns, AFW Director of Outreach, leads healthcare outreach initiatives to ensure more patients in need are reached. ?? Bette Gardner, AFW Board Member, Outreach Committee Chair, Command Pilot since 2009, and long-time supporter, providing visionary leadership to strengthen healthcare partnerships. ?? Mary Noli Pilkington, MSN, RN, CCM, AFW Healthcare Partner, Board Member, and Outreach Committee Member, bringing her expertise as the Senior Director of Care Coordination & Clinical Social Work at UCLA Health to help guide our mission. We're grateful to have these advocates to propel our mission forward — as well as many other volunteers, team members, and board members who aren't pictured here. Thank you for all you do! Stay tuned for more spotlights and updates from our planning retreat!