News Release
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Liz Lockwood
Corporate Angel Network
914-328-1313
liz@corpangelnetwork.org
Please forward to other departments if appropriate.

"Account"
NetJets Anonymous Fractional Owner Donation Helps
Omaha Mother Find Her Way Home

White Plains, NY (September 4, 2003)-When Keri Mingle visited her family in Salem, Oregon this past January, she had no idea her stay would last for months instead of days. Five months pregnant at the time, the Omaha, Nebraska resident suddenly went into labor and delivered her baby four months prematurely. She soon discovered the reason for the premature birth: she was suffering from cervical cancer.

For the next nine months, Keri and her daughter Hailey lived in a motel in Salem while she consulted with cancer specialists and underwent radiation treatment at the Salem Cancer Clinic. Keri wanted desperately to return home to Omaha but when she finally felt strong enough to travel, her financial resources were exhausted and she had nowhere to turn. The American Cancer Society referred her to Corporate Angel Network, a national public charity based in White Plains, New York, that arranges free flights for cancer patients aboard corporate aircraft. When unable to find a timely corporate flight for Keri and Hailey, Corporate Angel Network was able to arrange a flight with NetJets, a company that provides fractional aircraft ownership services. Earlier this year, an anonymous NetJets owner had generously donated flight time hours, and Corporate Angel Network was able to draw on the remaining time to customize a flight for Keri and Hailey from Salem to Omaha. Bonnie LeVar, Executive Director of Corporate Angel put it in context. "Cancer patients live with tremendous stress," she explained. "Enabling them to bypass modern commercial air travel, with all its inconvenience and indignities, affords them significant relief." In March, the same anonymous donor generously donated 75 hours of flight time to Corporate Angel Network. Charles Lynch, a vice president with NetJets, once again lauded the donor and the Corporate Angel Network for their largesse and commitment to cancer patients.

After what seemed like an interminable spell in limbo, Keri and Hailey were finally able to go home. The NetJets flight left McNary Field at 10:00 AM local time today and arrived at Elliott Aviation, Eppley Airfield at 3:12 PM local time. Keri is immeasurably grateful to the anonymous NetJets donor and the Corporate Angel Network and looks forward to a day years from now when she can bring Hailey and her grandchildren back to Salem.

Founded in 1981, Corporate Angel Network (www.CorpAngelNetwork.org) now includes 500 participating corporations, along with a team of 60 part-time volunteers and six paid staff who work with patients, physicians, corporate flight departments and leading treatment centers to coordinate medical travel needs of cancer patients. To date, Corporate Angel Network has arranged nearly 17,000 flights, and currently provides about 160 patient flights per month.
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