Angel Flight West

Thank you to our generous partner, Alaska Airlines, for helping two-year-old Sofia and her mother, Nina, access Sofia’s care at Seattle Children's. Nina shared her gratitude with our team, saying, “Thank you so much for all your help getting my daughter and me to and from Seattle. The whole trip was stress-free and easy. I could not have asked for a better experience given the circumstances. “As a single mom with three kids, I wouldn’t have been able to afford a flight or the time it would have taken to drive, so we are very thankful to Alaska Airlines for the flight. We got home safely and in a timely manner. Thank you so much!” Nina also expressed her thanks to AFW Volunteer Pilot Scott Chaffin for helping the mother-and-daughter duo travel to Seattle for their first flight. “The flight with Scott Chaffin and his wife was amazing," she says. "It could not have gone any smoother.” It truly takes a village to help patients overcome barriers to essential care, and we can’t thank Alaska Airlines and our volunteer pilots enough for being part of the solution. #alaskaairlines #AlaskaCarelines #alaskacares

Since 2011, the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) has designated the third Thursday in November as National Rural Health Day (NRHD) to celebrate the "Power of Rural." This day highlights the incredible efforts of rural healthcare providers, communities, organizations, and other stakeholders working tirelessly to meet the unique healthcare challenges faced by rural America. At Angel Flight West, we are proud to support rural communities by helping hundreds of passengers from remote areas access life-saving care each year. Meet our passenger Timothy from Sheridan, Wyoming. Since his first flight in October, he’s flown with Angel Flight West eight times to access his care at UCHealth in Colorado. His journey would otherwise mean more than six hours and 400 miles by car — and that's just one way one way. We honor the "Power of Rural" and are committed to being part of the solution for those who live far from the care they need. Thank you to all our volunteer pilots and drivers who have helped Timothy on his journey, including: Joni Jackson, Bernie Roland, John Kugler, Michele Barnett, Richard Pritzlaff, and Kosta Constantine (pictured here). Additionally, thanks to supporters who have contributed to our Dr. Randy Sherman Access for All Fund, AFW has been able to purchase commercial airline tickets for Timothy when flying in a small plane wasn't possible. #PowerOfRural #NationalRuralHealthDay #AngelFlightWest

Meet our healthcare partner, Kate. She’s been requesting flights with Angel Flight West for an incredible 16 years as a social worker with Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children's Health | Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford. Each year, AFW works with healthcare professionals like Kate to ensure patients can access the vital care they need. Learn more in the article below.

Giving Tuesday is only weeks away, and we're on a mission to raise enough funds to arrange 200 flights. We need your help! Your generosity empowers us to continue our mission and brings hope to families during their most difficult times. Make your gift today at https://lnkd.in/gpP23Uaw. Meet our passenger, Paul. Since his first Angel Flight in 2023, Paul has flown 17 times to access his crucial health care, and he’s grateful for the pilots who relieve some of his burden. “With these flights, you’re being lifted up,” he says. “My wife and I are doing so much on our own, but when a community like Angel Flight West can help you, it feels good. There are people out there supporting us.” For Paul, that also means getting to know some of AFW’s volunteer pilots during his flights. “It’s like an old friend picking you up,” he says. “It’s such a relief to know you’ll be home, safe in bed, and starting to heal and get better.” Together, we can lift lives — please, make your plans to support AFW this #GivingTuesday and keep hope in flight!

MISSION MOMENT: Meet one of our newest Earth Angels, Dr. Laura Wittcoff, who just completed her first ground mission with Angel Flight West! Dr. Laura drove passenger Marilene from Santa Monica Airport to her essential care at UCLA Health and back, ensuring Marilene had seamless access to medical care. Dr. Laura connected with us through her Small & Gutsy podcast, where she interviewed AFW Executive Director Josh Olson and Board Chair Mark Wolper. Now, she's diving in firsthand as a volunteer to give back, inspired by her own journey with breast cancer and her commitment to making health care accessible to all. Dr. Laura shares, "I love my medical team and rely on them to keep me healthy and living a longer life. I recognize that having access to great medical care should be a right, not a privilege. Being a driver for Angel Flight West enables me to give back in a small way what I received from others who were part of my healing village and continue to be on my team. Thank you, Angel Flight West, for giving me the opportunity to help others stay healthy!" A special thanks as well to our dedicated volunteer pilots, Kyle Lemon, Tamas Forgacs, and Mission Assistant Thomas Balch, for flying Marilene to her appointments with care and compassion.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Meet Yasmeen, our amazing Executive Assistant, who just celebrated her one-year anniversary at Angel Flight West! Yasmeen’s favorite part of working at AFW? "Knowing that the work we do helps so many people get the assistance they need. It gives me hope to see so many wonderful people volunteering their time and supporting this incredible cause." ?? One of her proudest accomplishments so far? Planning our two-day 2024 strategic planning retreat for over 70 people — an impressive feat, especially as her first out-of-state event! ?? When she’s not working her magic at AFW, Yasmeen enjoys spending quality time with her family, including her eight-year-old son and four energetic dogs. ???? Thank you, Yasmeen, for being such a vital part of our team! ??

Calling all pilots! Be sure to check out the latest safety article from AFW's Safety Officer Alexi Stavropoulos on the topic of Ground Operations. Alexi says, "In this article we actually won’t get airborne at all. We will discuss Threats, Errors and their mitigation, while we are still on the ground. Specifically, we will cover procedures and processes from prior to engine start, up to our decision-making process during a rejected takeoff while rolling down the runway." Don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter for quarterly updates:

?? Mahalo to Hawaiian Airlines for Making a Difference! ?? For the past two years, young Rowan has been able to access specialized heart care at Stanford Children's Health | Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford, thanks to the support of our incredible airline partner, Hawaiian Airlines. Rowan’s family, who lives in Honolulu, depends on this access, which would be difficult without Hawaiian’s help. Rowan’s mother, Cheryl, shared, "There is a financial burden to travel for medical care, and you have removed that." "Hawaiian Airlines has flown me and my nine-year-old son from Oahu to San Francisco for specialized care not easily found on Oahu. Without Hawaiian Airlines’ help, flying for his heart care would be challenging. Mahalo, Hawaiian Airlines, for the flights and the two free bags each!" Since partnering with us in 2013, Hawaiian Airlines has helped countless families access the medical care they need, both between islands and from Hawaii to the mainland. This year alone, they have provided 35 tickets to help patients reach life-saving care. ?????? Thank you, Hawaiian Airlines, for lifting this burden and making a real difference in the lives of our passengers! #Mahalo #HawaiianAirlines

One year ago, Angel Flight West marked a milestone of 100,000 missions flown, and today, we’re celebrating the enduring impact and dedication that has continued to soar since that special day. In the past year, our mission to connect people in need with life-changing flights has only strengthened, thanks to our devoted volunteers, staff, passengers, donors, and supporters. Our 100,000th mission celebration was a time to honor the generosity of each volunteer pilot and the unwavering commitment of our team and partners. With inspiring words from AFW Executive Director Josh Olson, who reminded us of the legacy we are all part of, and a heartfelt acknowledgment from guest Edward Norton, the event became a testament to the spirit of giving that drives Angel Flight West forward. As we reflect on this past year, we are filled with gratitude for every person who has shared in our vision. Looking ahead, we’re excited to extend our reach, carrying more families and touching more lives, mission by mission. Here’s to the journey ahead and to all those who make it possible — thank you for soaring with us!

The Community Solutions Challenge’s grant enables Angel Flight West to recruit new volunteers, connect with patients and healthcare providers, and arrange more flights for Californians needing access to distant medical care. Meet AFW Passenger Jonathan, a cancer survivor and advocate. In 2012, he faced a life-changing stage three brain cancer diagnosis. With the support of organizations like Angel Flight West, he fought back, undergoing transformative surgeries and clinical trials to receive the care he needed at UCLA Health and UCSF Health. Jonathan is pictured here with two of those generous volunteers: Command Pilot John Neustadt and Mission Assistant Dr. Stuart Bloom. Now, Jonathan channels his resilience into his nonprofit, Linda Vista Farmers’ Market, which operates a farmers market in a food desert. Last month, he shared his testimonial at AFW's Golf Classic, saying, “I want to thank all of you who helped me so I can now help others in return." Thanks to the ongoing support from AstraZeneca, we can extend our assistance to passengers like Jonathan, ensuring they have reliable transportation to the health care they need.