December 2010-
As we reach the end of 2010, all of us at Patient AirLift Services want to extend our best wishes for your Holiday Season. We end the year on a high note, having crossed the 100-flight threshold several weeks back. In our inaugural partial year, we have flown patients and passengers 50,000 miles—for free! We have 80 pilots and growing, supported by two full-time and three part-time employees, and a diverse twelve-member Board.
Our publicity exposure was nothing short of remarkable. Many local newspapers and television stations featured us. In addition, we were in the Greater New York section of the Wall Street Journal, and in a 7-page spread in Greenwich magazine. Amazing!
Our fundraising efforts in 2010 were likewise successful. In 2011 we will not only repeat our fall Connecticut Fundraiser (see articles below), we will also host Wings N Wheels on the grounds of the Bridgeport Airport the weekend before Memorial Day, and present a Hunter-Jumper equestrian event later in the year at an exclusive Bedminster, NJ facility.
You can stay current with our most recent news by visiting us often here on the web at www.palservices.org, or at our Patient AirLift Services Facebook page. We are still very much in need of volunteers of all kinds…pilots of course, but also CarPals who can help transport our patients from the airports to their healthcare appointment and volunteers to work at our events. You may volunteer by completing an application on our website, or get more information on the telephone by calling us toll-free at 888-818-1231.
Have a Healthy and Happy New Year!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
PALS Fundraiser a Smashing Success
by Christopher W. Hunt-
Capped by an evening that brought together nearly 200 attendees with a heartfelt outpouring of donations that exceeded its fundraising goal by a wide margin (in excess of $400,000 net), Patient AirLift Services - founded this past May - ends its first year with an event that positions the non-profit squarely among the leaders in its field. “It was a rousing success,” commented Joe Howley, President and Chairman of PALS. “The fundraiser went well beyond our wildest expectations; we could not be more thrilled.”
The November 19th event, which was held at The Tamarack Country Club in Greenwich, included an open buffet, hors d'oeuvres and two open bars held in the club’s main dining and living rooms and portico. A silent auction, emceed by the very entertaining Patrick O’Rourke, included dozens of donated items ranging from professional baseball tickets and wine to Tiffany and sterling silver necklaces, and even an original Peter Max watercolor.
But the highlights of the night were on the stage: following Mr. Howley’s presentation on PALS’ past, current and future initiatives, which also included a short video on the organization’s scope and reach, the audience heard compelling presentations from two individuals whose lives have been touched by challenges and tragedy but who were immensely helped and supported by PALS.
The first speech was by 14-year old Taylor Walpole who has been flown by PALS on several occasions. Taylor, who suffers from congenital adrenal hyperplasia, requires life-sustaining treatment in New York’s Long Island, several hundred miles from her home in upstate New York. Taylor, poised and polished and in a confident voice, lauded the PALS program and team and thanked them for lessening the stress on hers and her mother, Lisa’s life and easing the burden of her disease.
The second speech was delivered by Nicole DeGennero, whose husband Peter was flown a total of 17 times by PALS this year from Bangor, Maine to Logan Airport in Boston. Peter, who had a very rare form of leukemia, was being treated at Dana Farber Hospital in Boston. In an emotional tone that held the attention of everyone present, Nicole discussed her husband’s long ordeal; from the day they learned of his illness to the scope of treatments he had to endure through his passing on August 4th. Nicole thanked PALS for making their difficult journey together so much easier and extending the quality of his life and hers by making the trips bearable for them. She also said how grateful she was to PALS for granting one of Peter’s final wishes: a compassion flight to New Jersey from Maine, arranged for and executed by PALS, so Peter could visit a final time with his grandfather. “Lisa and Peter’s situations are why these fundraisers are so critical,” said Mr. Howley. “The enormous support we received allows us to continue our objective to help as many people in need of medical care reach the treatment they require.”
According to Mr. Howley, the organization already has three major fundraisers planned for 2011, including The Corsairs Wings and Wheels over Connecticut in May; a horse show in September and a golf outing; date and location to be determined.
Please direct all media inquiries and opportunities to:
Chris Hunt, Corporate Communications
chris.hunt@palservices.org
Capped by an evening that brought together nearly 200 attendees with a heartfelt outpouring of donations that exceeded its fundraising goal by a wide margin (in excess of $400,000 net), Patient AirLift Services - founded this past May - ends its first year with an event that positions the non-profit squarely among the leaders in its field. “It was a rousing success,” commented Joe Howley, President and Chairman of PALS. “The fundraiser went well beyond our wildest expectations; we could not be more thrilled.”
The November 19th event, which was held at The Tamarack Country Club in Greenwich, included an open buffet, hors d'oeuvres and two open bars held in the club’s main dining and living rooms and portico. A silent auction, emceed by the very entertaining Patrick O’Rourke, included dozens of donated items ranging from professional baseball tickets and wine to Tiffany and sterling silver necklaces, and even an original Peter Max watercolor.
But the highlights of the night were on the stage: following Mr. Howley’s presentation on PALS’ past, current and future initiatives, which also included a short video on the organization’s scope and reach, the audience heard compelling presentations from two individuals whose lives have been touched by challenges and tragedy but who were immensely helped and supported by PALS.
The first speech was by 14-year old Taylor Walpole who has been flown by PALS on several occasions. Taylor, who suffers from congenital adrenal hyperplasia, requires life-sustaining treatment in New York’s Long Island, several hundred miles from her home in upstate New York. Taylor, poised and polished and in a confident voice, lauded the PALS program and team and thanked them for lessening the stress on hers and her mother, Lisa’s life and easing the burden of her disease.
The second speech was delivered by Nicole DeGennero, whose husband Peter was flown a total of 17 times by PALS this year from Bangor, Maine to Logan Airport in Boston. Peter, who had a very rare form of leukemia, was being treated at Dana Farber Hospital in Boston. In an emotional tone that held the attention of everyone present, Nicole discussed her husband’s long ordeal; from the day they learned of his illness to the scope of treatments he had to endure through his passing on August 4th. Nicole thanked PALS for making their difficult journey together so much easier and extending the quality of his life and hers by making the trips bearable for them. She also said how grateful she was to PALS for granting one of Peter’s final wishes: a compassion flight to New Jersey from Maine, arranged for and executed by PALS, so Peter could visit a final time with his grandfather. “Lisa and Peter’s situations are why these fundraisers are so critical,” said Mr. Howley. “The enormous support we received allows us to continue our objective to help as many people in need of medical care reach the treatment they require.”
According to Mr. Howley, the organization already has three major fundraisers planned for 2011, including The Corsairs Wings and Wheels over Connecticut in May; a horse show in September and a golf outing; date and location to be determined.
Please direct all media inquiries and opportunities to:
Chris Hunt, Corporate Communications
chris.hunt@palservices.org
Monday, December 27, 2010
PALS Completes Four Missions in a One Day, Five-state Round Trip
By Christopher W. Hunt-
On Saturday, December 10th, Patient AirLift Services (PALS) flew what was clearly its most involved and challenging medical transport mission to date: a five-state, nine- passenger and four family marathon running just shy of 12 hours. The day’s activities would commence at 7:00 a.m. at Helmsley Medical Towers by CarPals to pick up patient Blake Lusty and his mother Lily and end nearly a half day later when PALS pilots Joe Howley and John Rochelle would touch down Howley’s plane at White Plains, New York at 6:20 p.m. On board with the pilots would be six Ohio-based passengers including three-year old Isaac Jones and nine-year old Thane Wooley, both diagnosed with neuroblastoma; heading for New York’s Ronald McDonald House with their families. In between, Howley’s Pilatus PC-12 would travel over 1,300 nautical miles with additional stops in New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and Ohio to drop off and pick up patients at each stop, including retired veteran George Petznick, who boarded in Virginia en route to Wright Patterson Medical Center in Ohio. The final take-off would be at 3:30 p.m. in Dayton, Ohio; the final destination: the Million Air Terminal at White Plains where the day’s journey began. “This was an exemplary effort by all involved,” commented co-pilot John Rochelle. “This clearly demonstrates the reach and coordination that PALS can accomplish, even on a one-day mission that involved so many people in numerous locations. As expensive as it is to fly a pressurized, turbine class aircraft all day long, this series of flights was the most efficient use of such a wonderful aircraft and a two pilot crew.”
Please direct all media inquiries and opportunities to:
Chris Hunt
Corporate Communications
chris.hunt@palservices.org
On Saturday, December 10th, Patient AirLift Services (PALS) flew what was clearly its most involved and challenging medical transport mission to date: a five-state, nine- passenger and four family marathon running just shy of 12 hours. The day’s activities would commence at 7:00 a.m. at Helmsley Medical Towers by CarPals to pick up patient Blake Lusty and his mother Lily and end nearly a half day later when PALS pilots Joe Howley and John Rochelle would touch down Howley’s plane at White Plains, New York at 6:20 p.m. On board with the pilots would be six Ohio-based passengers including three-year old Isaac Jones and nine-year old Thane Wooley, both diagnosed with neuroblastoma; heading for New York’s Ronald McDonald House with their families. In between, Howley’s Pilatus PC-12 would travel over 1,300 nautical miles with additional stops in New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and Ohio to drop off and pick up patients at each stop, including retired veteran George Petznick, who boarded in Virginia en route to Wright Patterson Medical Center in Ohio. The final take-off would be at 3:30 p.m. in Dayton, Ohio; the final destination: the Million Air Terminal at White Plains where the day’s journey began. “This was an exemplary effort by all involved,” commented co-pilot John Rochelle. “This clearly demonstrates the reach and coordination that PALS can accomplish, even on a one-day mission that involved so many people in numerous locations. As expensive as it is to fly a pressurized, turbine class aircraft all day long, this series of flights was the most efficient use of such a wonderful aircraft and a two pilot crew.”
Please direct all media inquiries and opportunities to:
Chris Hunt
Corporate Communications
chris.hunt@palservices.org
Sunday, December 26, 2010
PALS featured in the Palladium-Times of Oswego, NY
On December 22 a story about Patient AirLift Services was featured in Oswego's Palladium-Times, highlighting the help provided to Taylor Walpole, age 14, and updating the Oswego readership about the mission of PALS. The article states in part, "Taylor Walpole, 14, of Oswego, receives life-sustaining medical treatments at a children’s hospital on Long Island, more than 300 miles from home. She and her mom, Lisa, were making this trek by car — a six-hour drive — several times a year for the last four years, until the Walpoles had the good fortune to have Patient Airlift Services (PALS) enter their lives... Lisa said she found PALS through an online search out of desperation and by luck. “I’m going to share this story,” she said. “There are so many more people around here, just in central New York, that could benefit from this.”
The full article can be found at the following link: http://www.palltimes.com/articles/2010/12/19/news/doc4d0ea3dc2c9de847733779.txt
The full article can be found at the following link: http://www.palltimes.com/articles/2010/12/19/news/doc4d0ea3dc2c9de847733779.txt
Friday, December 10, 2010
First Ever PALS Fundraiser is a SMASH hit!
Volunteers, pilots, staff, organizers and attendees all could not have been more pleased with our Tamarack Country Club venue, the food, the music and of course the great company. All in all, we exceeded our fundraising expectations by a wide margin, while providing an informative and entertaining evening.
We know all those who came will plan on being there again next year. And all of you that could not attend, be on the lookout for next year's Save-the-Date. It is sure to be another smash hit.
The evening was made possible by never-ending hard work by organizer/Chair Ruthanne Ruzika, supported by staff and volunteers before, during and after. Thank you Ruthanne!
A very special friend of volunteer flying was in attendance. Yankee fan, Mets fan or even Red Sox fan notwithstanding, you have to tip your cap to #9, Graig Nettles. And even if the slow cameras of the 70s and 80s couldn't catch him in action, our cameras did for sure. Thank you Graig!
More photos on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=28049&id=120839987953206&page=3
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