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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Helen Gibbs
Communications Director
914-328-1313
gibbs@corpangelnetwork.org
GREATER WASHINGTON AVIATION OPEN BREAKS FUNDRAISING RECORD
FOR CORPORATE ANGEL NETWORK
Aviation Industry Raises $105,000 to Support
Cancer Patient Transportation on Corporate Jets
White Plains, NY - A record $105,000 was raised for Corporate
Angel Network at the 15th Annual Greater Washington Aviation Open
(GWAO) golf and tennis tournament, held May 5th at the Indian
Spring Country Club in Silver Spring, MD. The country's premier
aviation charity event, and a major fundraiser for Corporate Angel
Network, once again drew a stellar crowd representing a broad
range of aviation companies and professionals, headed up by Honorary
Chairs Congressman Martin Sabo (D, MN) and Rudy de Leon, Senior
Vice President for Washington, DC Operations, The Boeing Company.
An overcast, chilly day with scattered showers did little to dampen
the enthusiasm displayed on the greens and courts. After rousing
competition, golf and tennis players moved on to an elegant banquet
dinner featuring a live auction.
Enticing "Flights of Fancy" were donated by domestic
and international airlines. These included business-class travel
packages to Europe and Asia and first-class tickets and packages
to US destinations and resorts. Corporate Angel Network participating
corporations were among the donor companies. Bidding was spirited
and included much good-natured ribbing-all with the goal of increasing
the funds raised for Corporate Angel Network. At the close of
the evening, Bonnie LeVar, Executive Director of Corporate Angel
Network, was presented with a check that was gigantic in both
size and amount.
"The aviation community's outstanding support for Corporate
Angel Network is immensely gratifying to our volunteers and staff,
who work so hard to arrange life-saving flights for our cancer
patients," said Ms. LeVar. "The funds the industry raises
for us through the GWAO are hugely important-even essential-to
our ongoing success. The moral support provided by the GWAO makes
a big difference, too. The affirmation that our industry colleagues
are behind our program is inspiring."
The Greater Washington Aviation Open 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. More than 2,800 people
from around the world have participated in past tournaments, raising
over $700,000 for Corporate Angel Network. The funds raised this
year by the GWAO will underwrite about 25% of Corporate Angel
Network's annual operating budget and are a major factor in the
program's ongoing success.
"The tremendous support of the aviation industry for the
GWAO is really overwhelming when you consider the state of the
industry," commented Tournament Director Paul Bollinger.
"This year's GWAO was another sell-out and we raised a record
amount-you can't do much better than that."
The GWAO tournament committee also included Pete West, National
Business Aviation Association; Don Skiados, Airline Pilots Association
International; Jon Ash, Global Aviation Associates, Ltd.; Jim
Bennett, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority; Mary Miller,
Signature Flight Support; Ed Hazelwood, Aviation Week Television
& Conferences; and Jeff Lehman, OBN Aviation. Lehman's cousin,
Kay Schacter, is a longtime Corporate Angel Network volunteer.
______________________________________________________________________________
Greater Washington Aviation Open
Hosted yearly by the entire aviation industry, the GWAO (www.gwao.org)
has raised more than $700,000 over the last 15 years. Thousands
of aviation professionals, congressmen and senators, government
officials, and people from across the country and globe have participated
in past tournaments. This broad mix of people has made the GWAO
the largest gathering of aviation professionals for a sporting
charity event in Washington, D.C. and perhaps America. The event
is planned and managed by an all-volunteer tournament committee.
Corporate Angel Network
Corporate Angel Network (www.corpangelnetwork.org) is a national
public charity with only one mission: to provide cancer patients
with access to specialized treatment by arranging free flights
using the empty seats on corporate aircraft traveling on routine
business. Since its founding in 1981, Corporate Angel Network
has coordinated nearly 17,000 flights for cancer patients aboard
participating company aircraft. The organization has won numerous
awards for volunteerism, including two presidential citations.
Corporate Angel Network has attracted more than 500 of America's
best corporations into its network. These companies recognize
that flying with vacant seats is an enormous opportunity to help
cancer patients win their battle.
______________________________________________________________________________
Photo Caption: Randy Greene, Chairman, Corporate Angel Network,
holds left side of check for $105,000 raised for Corporate Angel
Network by GWAO on May 5th, flanked by GWAO Committee members
(l to r) Jim Bennett, Jon Ash, Mary Miller, Jeff Lehman, Pete
West, and Paul Bollinger.
May 13, 2003
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