Air Line Pilots Association members are once again in the holiday spirit, participating in charitable drives and events in their home communities. The following are just a few examples of how ALPA pilots are delivering more than just packages and passengers this year.
If you are an ALPA member and would like to be included in our #ALPAholidays coverage, send your photos and some information about the event to Communications@alpa.org. Or share your photos with us on social media! Just tag us and use #ALPAholidays on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Pilots’ Antics Bring Much-Needed Smiles
Volunteers for Pilots For Kids (PFK) in Indianapolis, Ind., are well into their season, having made two hospital visits to bring much-needed cheer to 28 kids at Indiana University Riley North Hospital and 21 kids at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital (PMCH) on November 29 and 30. The visits included 19 pilots in goofy hats and ties, a drone flying high and taking pics, another drone crashing into walls and ceilings in hospital rooms, pilot-induced buffoonery, laughter, and a few smiles on a few little faces that weren’t there before the volunteers arrived.
After the visit, Capt. Dan Ferracciolo (FDX), Indy PFK coordinator, received a touching e-mail from one patient’s father: “I just want to say a big thank-you for making my kid’s day today . . . My son wants to say thanks for the gifts, the kindness of your organization, and your pilots.”
PFK volunteers ready to deliver toys at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. More photos.
The Indy PFK group has three more visits scheduled around Indianapolis for the remainder of the season, and encourages pilots to make a tax-deductible donation to Pilots For Kids, where 100 percent of your donation to this international organization goes directly toward kids in need.
WestJet 230 Team Earns High Honor at Santa Shuffle Fundraiser
On December 2, WestJet Council 230 participated in the Santa Shuffle Fun Run and Elf Walk, a fundraiser for the Salvation Army in Calgary. It was a beautiful day for the run, and the team—“YYC Council 230 Pilots Guild,” with six 5K runners and two 1K walkers—raised $1,465, making them the top fundraising team in the event.
The WJA team poses with Santa before the race. More photos.
Participants included Capt. Dave and Karly Colquhoun, F/O Roman McLellan, F/O Mike Taylor, Capt. Des Jordan, Capt. Mark Jurkowski, Capt. Rob McFadyen, and Ed Brennan (filling in for his son, Capt. Sam Brennan). The camaraderie was palpable and members’ families were there to cheer on the team.
Jazz Pilots Feed Kids in Need with Starfish Pack
Jazz Pilots for Kids is proud to partner with the Starfish Pack Program of Vancouver to expand their charitable program for the 2017–2018 school year! Starfish Packs fill a gap that is missed by traditional breakfast and lunch programs at school—the weekend. Students who might otherwise go hungry on weekends are sent home with a backpack of food for their family. The Jazz Pilots for Kids donation of 10 backpacks this year allowed Starfish to add another school to its program. Every weekend, Starfish feeds 749 kids at 65 schools in British Columbia.
