Tag: Foundation (Page 2 of 2)

WWII B-17 Bomber Crash Lands in Connecticut, 7 Killed

October 3, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

(Reuters) – A World War Two-era B-17 bomber trying to make an emergency landing at an airport near Hartford, Connecticut, crashed and burned on Wednesday, killing seven people on board and closing the airport for several hours, authorities said.

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress took off from Bradley International Airport on Wednesday morning and the crew contacted the air traffic control tower five minutes later to report a problem, National Transportation Safety Board member Jennifer Homendy said at a news conference.

During the crew’s attempt to land back at the airport, the plane struck stanchions near a runway and careened across a grassy area and a taxiway before striking a de-icing facility, said Homendy, whose agency sent a 10-member team to investigate the crash.

Rescue crews from numerous emergency response agencies raced to the scene where a plume of thick, black smoke billowed skyward after the crash.

Seven people died in the crash and six others, including a worker in the de-icing station, were treated for injuries ranging from minor to critical, James Rovella, commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, told the news conference.

A total of 13 people were on board the plane, including three crew members, Rovella said.

The names of the seven people who died have not been released pending notification of all the victims’ families. All the victims were adults, Rovella said.

ESCAPE HATCH

Some people on the plane opened an escape hatch and helped others get out, he said.

“During the course of the next coming days, you’re going to hear about some heroic efforts from some of the individuals that were in or around that plane,” he said.

The airport, located in the town of Windsor Locks, was closed for about 3-1/2 hours after the crash.

The plane was operated by the Massachusetts-based Collings Foundation, which is dedicated to the preservation and public display of automotive and aviation-related history.

“The Collings Foundation flight team is fully cooperating with officials to determine the cause of the crash of the B-17 Flying Fortress and will comment further when details become known,” the foundation said in a statement.

The vintage plane was one of only 18 B-17 aircraft still operating in the United States.

Reporting by Peter Szekely and Maria Caspani in New York, Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Peter Cooney

Comment: I have made several pilgrimages to see the Collings Foundation aircraft over the years, and some of my personnal photos of this aircraft can be seen below. Thank you

American Airlines Donates $150,000 to El Paso and Dayton Communities

August 4, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines is donating $75,000 to the El Paso Community Foundation and $75,000 to the Dayton Oregon District Tragedy Fund at the Dayton Foundation to support the communities in the wake of shootings this weekend in both cities. El Paso is one of 24 cities in its home state of Texas that American serves, and Dayton is home to PSA Airlines, one of American’s three wholly owned subsidiary carriers.

“We are saddened by the tragic events that took place this weekend in El Paso and Dayton,” said Chairman and CEO Doug Parker. “American has a long history of serving both communities, and we want to do our part to ensure that those who were affected by these senseless acts of violence have access to the resources they need.”

The El Paso Community Foundation was established in 1977 as a permanent endowment for the long-term benefit of El Paso and the surrounding region and serves as a charitable resource to donors, nonprofit organizations and the community at large.

The Dayton Foundation, the region’s largest community foundation, has been providing services, support and counsel to other nonprofits since its establishment in 1921. The donation to the Dayton Oregon District Tragedy Fund at the Dayton Foundation is made on behalf of both American and PSA.

“All of us at PSA are deeply affected by last night’s events,” said PSA President Dion Flannery. “Over the coming weeks, we will work with community leaders and partners to identify volunteer opportunities for our Dayton-based team members to support those in our hometown.”

American Airlines to Raise Funding for Stand Up To Cancer

July 1, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines will provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to add a loved one’s name to one of its planes in honor of those who are cancer survivors, current cancer fighters and those who lost their battle with cancer. Anyone who makes a donation of $25 or more to Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) during the month of July can add the name of a person they stand up for to an American Airlines Airbus A321. The plane, which will begin flying this fall, will be wrapped with a special SU2C design that includes names submitted.

The campaign launches July 1 with a digital and television ad featuring Stand Up To Cancer Ambassador and superstar Tim McGraw alongside six American team members from across the U.S. Tim as well as each team member in this new campaign has been personally affected by cancer, either as a survivor or a co-survivor caring for a loved one fighting the disease.

“Every family in America has a cancer story, my own family included. Too many of us have lost our parents, children, spouses and friends to this terrible disease,” McGraw said. “I’ve been so touched by the stories of the American Airlines team members I’ve met over the past month and I’m honored to lend my voice to this campaign to help create a world where all cancer patients can become long-term survivors and have more time with the people they love.”

As part of the company’s multi-year, multi-million dollar collaboration with SU2C, 100% of donations received will go to support Stand Up To Cancer’s collaborative cancer research programs.

“Our national collaboration with Stand Up To Cancer was driven by their proven approach to cancer research and our corporate purpose to care for people on life’s journeys. In a few short years, we’ve seen donations contribute to scientific breakthroughs and more access to meaningful clinical trials,” said Elise Eberwein, Executive Vice President of People and Communications at American. “Today, we ask anyone who has been impacted by cancer join us in our shared goal to make every cancer patient a long-term survivor.”

American team members in Los Angeles and Nashville participated in the campaign, which includes pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, Customer Service agents and Fleet Service team members.

To honor its own team members, the first names added to the plane will be those of American team members who self-identified as cancer survivors or are currently battling cancer.

“We are so honored to team up with American Airlines in this empowering campaign, which offers anyone who’s been affected by cancer the chance to join our mission, publicly honor a loved one and stand up to cancer,” said Rusty Robertson, a co-founder of Stand Up To Cancer. “American Airlines continues to be a tremendous supporter of SU2C, and the critical dollars raised by this incredible campaign expands our mission to accelerate the pace of cutting-edge research and innovative cancer treatments to save lives now.”

To make a donation to SU2C and add a name to this special plane, visit aa.com/standup between July 1–31, 2019. Donors can visit aa.com/standup again in late September to see the location of their submitted names on the plane before it begins flying in September. Terms and conditions apply.

About Stand Up To Cancer

Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) raises funds to accelerate the pace of research to get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives now. SU2C, a division of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, was established in 2008 by film and media leaders who utilize the industry’s resources to engage the public in supporting a new, collaborative model of cancer research, and to increase awareness about cancer prevention as well as progress being made in the fight against the disease. Under the direction of our Scientific Advisory Committee, led by Nobel Laureate Phillip A. Sharp, Ph.D., SU2C operates rigorous, competitive review processes to identify the best research proposals to recommend for funding, oversee grants administration, and ensure collaboration across research programs.

Current members of the SU2C Council of Founders and Advisors (CFA) include Katie Couric, Sherry Lansing, Lisa Paulsen, Rusty Robertson, Sue Schwartz, Pamela Oas Williams, Ellen Ziffren, and Kathleen Lobb. The late Laura Ziskin and the late Noreen Fraser are also co-founders. Sung Poblete, PhD, RN, has served as SU2C’s president and CEO since 2011.

For more information on Stand Up To Cancer, please visit StandUpToCancer.org.

About Tim McGraw

His unparalleled career includes 43 number one radio singles, 16 number one albums and countless industry awards and accolades. His unique chart achievements include having three singles in the Top 20 of the radio charts on multiple occasions, as well as having two singles spend over 10 weeks at number one. His last solo project spawned one of the biggest hit singles of all-time, “Humble and Kind,” whose message continues to impact fans around the world including a Spanish version sung by McGraw. He has routinely been cited as one of the biggest touring artists in the history of country music.

WWII B-17 Bomber Crash Lands in Connecticut, 7 Killed

ESCAPE HATCH

American Airlines Donates $150,000 to El Paso and Dayton Communities

American Airlines to Raise Funding for Stand Up To Cancer

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