THE WHAT, WHEN, AND WHY OF SPREADING OUR WINGS
Angel Flight West Looks to the Future
What:
Spreading Our Wings is a capital
campaign to raise $2 million for the Angel Flight West Foundation by the
end of 2007. The invested principal of the Foundation will generate a
consistent revenue stream to support the operation of Angel Flight West.
When:
The campaign period is January 2006 to December 2007.
Why:
Angel Flight West has experienced
tremendous growth since its founding in 1984; now building upon 29,000
missions flown. The organization started because a few pilots wanted to
combine what they love to do, fly, with their desire to help the less
fortunate. As the concept took hold, it became apparent that a formal
structure with professional staff was needed to coordinate missions
between pilot and patient. The cost of flying the mission is borne by
the pilot. However all the other costs of keeping a viable organization
going has been the responsibility of Angel Flight West and, now, the
Angel Flight West Foundation.
The generosity of
our volunteer pilots is remarkable and exemplary. It is not uncommon to
find a pilot taking time away from work and family to fly a mission,
arrange for ground transportation for a patient, or even purchase a
commercial carrier ticket to complete a mission they are not able to
complete due to weather; all this in addition to furnishing the costly
aviation fuel and other plane-related expenses. The cost of a mission
can easily run into the hundreds of dollars.
For every mission
flown, an average of $200 is spent at the Angel Flight West office
level, and AFW expects to keep a pace exceeding 4,000 missions a year.
Funds are expended on overhead such as coordinator salaries, office
space lease, computer and phone systems, and important activities such
as recruiting new pilots, and the fundraising that helps to pay for it
all.
Fundraising and
related activities occupy no small amount of time and effort from staff
and leadership. Activities include membership processing, grant writing
and research, event planning and implementation such as the annual golf
tournament and anniversary celebration, and annual and major gift
solicitation from organizations and individuals. With the Angel Flight
West Foundation working to under gird AFW operations through an
endowment, staff can concentrate more of their efforts on the heart and
soul of our organization’s mission, helping to get people in need where
they must be to help prolong their lives.
The
Spreading Our Wings campaign seeks gifts
of cash, securities, and gifts-in-kind (real and personal property) to
build an endowment for a predictable stream of funding for the
operational budget. We are grateful to all who have supported us with
their past generosity as a member and being a vital part of the Angel
Flight West mission.
Now, through the
Spreading Our Wings
effort, you are invited to participate in the future of
Angel Flight West by making a gift to the AFW Foundation, and by
influencing others in your circle of friends and associates to help in
the effort.
As an Angel Flight
West Board member and as Chairman of the Angel Flight West Foundation, I
look forward to hearing from you with any questions or comments you may
have about our proud organization and our campaign to support it.
Stephen P. Bobko-Hillenaar
Stephen@bobko.net
Chairman
Angel
Flight West Foundation
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