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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Bonnie LeVar
(914) 328-1313
bonnielevar@corpangelnetwork.org
or Meghan Weber Stanton Communications
(212) 616-3601
mweber@stantoncomm.com
Premier Aviation Charity Event Raises $127,000
for Corporate Angel Network
The 19th Annual Greater Washington Aviation Open
Helps Cancer Patients Fight Their Battle
Lansdowne, VA—May 7, 2007—The 19th Annual Greater
Washington Aviation Open (GWAO), the largest aviation charity event
in the Washington, DC area, raised $127,000 for Corporate Angel
Network (CAN), the non-profit that arranges free flights to treatment
for cancer patients using empty seats on corporate flights.
Held on May 7 at Lansdowne Resort in Virginia, tournament
attendees included senior leadership from major aviation associations,
airlines, aerospace manufacturers, high-level representation from
Capitol Hill, and Federal agencies. More than 80 major aviation
corporations and associations participated representing 37 states
and several countries.
The GWAO tournament has raised well over one million
dollars for Corporate Angel Network. This year’s Honorary Chairman,
Peter Bunce, president of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association,
called on everyone to “support the auction to make this a record
year for donations”…and it was.
After the day’s competition, golf and tennis players
enjoyed the Victory Reception and Awards Banquet featuring a live
auction. “Flights of Fancy” around the world travel 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 Premier
Jet donated by Flight Safety International. CAN participating corporations
were well represented among the donors and bidders. At the close
of the evening, a check for $127,000 was presented to CAN by the
GWAO Board of Directors. GWAO Tournament Director, Paul Bollinger
remarked, “Every year the support for CAN by the aviation community
grows stronger and more vital, it truly is amazing.”
“For 25 years CAN has been helping cancer patients
by transporting them to specialized treatment centers using empty
seats in business aircraft,” said CAN’s Executive Director Peter
Fleiss. “For 19 years now the GWAO has been supporting our efforts
though this terrific annual event. The funds raised are of vital
importance to the life-prolonging service CAN provides,” continued
Fleiss. “We can’t thank the GWAO tournament committee enough for
the many hours they spend behind the scene, year after year, organizing
and running this wonderful 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 1.1 million
for CAN.
The GWAO tournament committee includes Tournament
Director Paul Bollinger; Pete West, West Advocacy; 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; Paul Wiedefeld, Maryland Transportation
Authority, and Tim Letzkus, of Sullivan Hidgon & Sink.
The 20th Annual GWAO will be held Monday, May 5th,
2008 at Lansdowne Resort, Virginia.
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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 19 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.
About Corporate Angel Network Corporate Angel Network
arranges free flights to treatment for cancer patients using the
empty seats on corporate 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 more than 25,000 flights and currently provides
more than 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.
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