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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bonnie LeVar
Corporate Angel Network
(914) 328-1313
bonnielevar@corpangelnetwork.org
or Eliza Sullivan Stanton Communications
(212) 572-6220
esullivan@stantoncomm.com
Greater Washington Aviation Open Breaks $1 Million
Mark for Corporate Angel Network
Premier Aviation Charity Event Raises $125,000
in 2006 and Celebrates 18th Year of fundraising for Cancer Patients
Lansdowne, VA—May 17, 2006—A record $125,000 was raised for Corporate
Angel Network (CAN) at the 18th Annual Greater Washington Aviation
Open (GWAO) golf and tennis tournament, May 8 at Lansdowne Resort
in Virginia. GWAO has raised more than $1 million since 1989 for
CAN, the non-profit that arranges free flights for cancer patients
using empty seats on routine corporate flights.
The country’s premier aviation charity event, and a major fundraiser
for CAN, drew Members of Congress, the Administration, Federal Agencies,
associations, companies, and individuals from across the U.S. U.S.
Congressman Joe Knollenberg, R-Michigan, and chairman of the House
Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, was the event’s Honorary
Chair; and National Business Aviation Association President and
CEO Ed Bolen was the Industry Honorary Chair.
After the competition, golf and tennis players enjoyed the Victory
Reception and Awards Banquet featuring a live auction. “Flights
of Fancy” around the world and resort accommodations were donated
by airlines and hotels; These included business-class travel packages
to Europe and Asia and first-class tickets and packages to U.S.
destinations and resorts, and a type rating in a Cessna jet donated
by Flight Safety International. CAN participating corporations were
well represented among the donors and bidders. At the close of the
evening, a $125,000 check was presented to CAN.
“This year marks the GWAO’s eighteenth anniversary of hosting a
golf and tennis event to raise money for the otherwise unattainable
benefit to cancer care that CAN provides,” said CAN’s Chairman,
Randall Greene. “In doing so, GWAO has raised more than a million
dollars for CAN. These funds are of vital importance to the life
prolonging service CAN performs. We can’t thank the GWAO tournament
committee enough for the many hours they spend behind the scene
organizing and running this annual event.”
The GWAO was established in 1989 by a group of aviation executives
as a means for aviation companies to support a worthy cause related
to air transportation while enjoying a day of sports and camaraderie.
Thousands of people from around the world have participated in past
tournaments while raising more than $1 million for CAN.
The GWAO tournament committee includes Tournament Director Paul
Bollinger; Pete West, Beacon Management Group; Don Skiados, Air
Line Pilots Association International; Jeff Lehman, OBN Aviation;
Jon Ash, InterVISTAS-ga2.; Mary Miller, Signature Flight Support;
Ed Hazelwood, Aviation Week Group; and Paul Wiedefeld, Parsons Brinckerhoff.
______________________________________________________________________________
Greater Washington Aviation Open
Hosted yearly by the aviation industry, the Greater Washington
Aviation Open (GWAO) has raised more than $1 million for CAN over
the last 18 years. Thousands of aviation professionals, congressmen
and senators, government officials, and people from across the country
and globe have participated in past tournaments. With more than
90 companies and organizations represented this year, the GWAO is
the largest gathering of aviation professionals for a sporting charity
event in Washington, D.C. The event is planned and managed by an
all-volunteer tournament committee. For more information please
visit: www.gwao.org.
Corporate Angel Network
Corporate Angel Network (CAN) arranges free flights for cancer
patients using the empty seats on routine corporate business flights.
Since its founding 25 years ago, CAN has grown to include 530 participating
corporations, five paid staff, and a team of 50 part-time volunteers
who work with patients, physicians, corporate flight departments,
and leading treatment centers to coordinate medical travel needs
of cancer patients with the scheduled flight activity of participating
corporations. To date, CAN has arranged nearly 25,000 flights and
currently provides about 200 patient flights a month. CAN has received
numerous awards in recognition of its service to cancer patients,
including The Volunteer Action Award, the highest volunteer award
from the President of the United States. For more information please
call CAN at (914) 328-1313 or visit www.CorpAngelNetwork.org. ______________________________________________________________________________
Photo Caption: The Greater Washington Aviation Open (GWAO) Honorary
Chair Ed Bolen, National Business Aviation Association President
and CEO, signs $125,000 check raised by GWAO in 2006 for Corporate
Angel Network (CAN). To date, the GWAO has raised more than $1 million
for CAN.
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