AIR
STRIKE TRAGEDY DIVERTS AGENCY'S MISSION BUT NOT ITS ABILITY TO SAVE
LIVES
WHITE PLAINS, NY 9/4/01—
Like so many other businesses in proximity to New York City on September
11, 2001, Corporate Angel Network's telephones were quiet and its
fax machines motionless. The national organization flies cancer patients
to treatment centers free of charge, using the empty seats on corporate
jets.
With air traffic at a standstill making it impossible for its patients
to fly, the agency which is based at the Westchester County Airport
in White Plains, NY, found a way to help save lives by enlisting its
corporate partners to fly emergency missions.
"We were
contacted by major blood banks throughout the northeast searching
for a timely way to fly hundreds of critical blood donor specimens
for testing that could only be accomplished in Florida during the
national emergency," explained Thomas Robertazzi, executive director.
"Using our intricate flight match system, Corporate Angel Network
was able to quickly identify corporate partners who could fly the
blood to Florida for testing."
On September 12, Corporate Angel Network coordinated the delivery
of 700 pounds of blood samples to a lab in Florida for testing. As
the number of samples needing testing continued to grow, the national
charity arranged for American Home Products Corporation to airlift
additional blood samples to another Florida testing site Thursday.
On Friday, through arrangement by Corporate Angel Network, Schering-Plough
transported more blood samples to Florida. Saturday Corporate Angel
Network coordinated a similar flight by International Paper Corporation.
"When our normal course of business could not go on,
we were thrilled to be able to do something to help in this tragedy
and are grateful to all those corporations who volunteered to make
emergency flights," said Mr. Robertazzi.
###
Corporate Angel Network (www.corpangelnetwork.org) is a non-profit,
nationwide organization that arranges free air transportation to treatment
centers for cancer patients by using the empty seats on corporate
aircraft traveling on routine business. Since its inception in 1981,
Corporate Angel Network has coordinated nearly 14,000 regularly scheduled
corporate flights with cancer patients aboard. Corporate Angel Network
has attracted into its network of more than 500 of America's best
corporations, including 56 of the top 100 in the Fortune 500. These
companies recognize that flying with vacant seats is an incredible
opportunity to help cancer patients win their battle. Hospitals may
contact Corporate Angel Network by calling (914) 328-1313, or email
info@corpangelnetwork.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jeanne Shanin
Phone: (914) 328-1313
jshanin@corpangelnetwork.org
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