Many thanks to Arnie Gernstein, Roberta Jackson and all at Angels of Hope who have generously provided our mission leaders with hand painted Angels, cards, T shirts and coloring books for our orphanages and projects in Haiti, Colombia, Guatemala, Philippines, Hungary and even South Africa These heartfelt and meaningful donations with the message “Love is Real” or Believe in Miracles” have brought so much joy to precious children who have experienced pain and trauma in their short lives.
It is such a joy for our teams to act as “volunteer transporters” for these gifts love. Thank you Angels of Hope for your ongoing uspport of our humanitarian initiatives bringing 
joy and hope to children! 
In the wake of human tragedy, like the recent terrorism in Paris, we are sometimes too afraid to act. However, it is the small acts of kindness and goodness, reflect the strength and hope of the human spirit. Most of us are men and women of goodwill, it is time to sound our note of brotherhood and solidarity. The trip to escort little John Marc was scheduled just two days after the terrorism in Paris. The trip was almost cancelled, but Sara Rosado, from AA Miami Flt Service, decided to escort this boy despite the fear surrounding the destination. Here is her report:.
ris, I think it was a good decision to go through with our plans. I’m glad we didn’t cancel.
“Changing the World via the Miracle of Flight” Ambassadors invites you to spend an evening with true American heroes at the SFO Aviation museum on Monday, January 11, 2016: out to learn about our programs, enjoy a fabulous dinner, and interact with people who have used their unique position in the airline industry to make the airline business; and the world as a whole a better place. You will get to meet and greet:
All proceeds from the evening will benefit Airline Ambassadors programs which aim to educate and prevent human trafficking on commercial airliners, assist in delivering humanitarian aid to poverty stricken areas of the world; and help facilitate life saving medical treatment for children by providing adult escort companions when traveling to and from the US. All donations and purchases of tickets are tax deductible.
Get your tickets HERE (and enjoy the 2015 tax benefit!)
Have questions?Contact Angels@airlineamb.org
Captain Al Haynes- Pilot of United Airlines flight 232, a DC-10 that experienced catastrophic hydraulic failure in 1989, resulting in a crash landing in Sioux City, Iowa. Due to his heroic actions and composed communication skills, 185 of the 296 passengers and all but one crew member survived the accident. Captain Haynes was instrumental in designing many of the training procedures that are in use at airlines today. See this Link
Flight Attendant Doreen Welsh – Survivor of Miracle on the Hudson. Doreen was part of the crew working US Airways Flight 1549 on January 15,2009 when the aircraft made a ditching in the Hudson river. Doreen was the only flight attendant who was injured; having her ankle impaled by an eight inch metal rod. She was at the back of the aircraft and made a critical; split second decision to stop passengers from opening the rear doors and having them climb over the seats-a decision that was credited by NTSB investigators as key limiting injuries and contributing to the successful evacuation with zero fatalities. See this LINK
Captain Denny Flanagan – Goodwill Ambassador for the Airline Industry Captain Flanagan comes from a 45 year career in commercial aviation. He is based in ORD and flies the Boeing 757/767 for United Airlines on Transatlantic and Transcontinental routes. He has established a reputation as the “goodwill ambassador” of the airline industry by taking unorthodox actions to benefit passengers including taking picture of animals in cargo bins to allow owners to see the animal was onboard and calls parents of unaccompanied minors during lengthy delays. He has been known to give away bottles of wine, trading cars, and discount coupons to random passengers on his flights. Captain Flanagan serves on the Board for the Jason Dahl Scholarship Fund, named after the Captain of United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. He is a navy veteran and retired from active duty in 1993. His good works have been recognized by the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the New York Times, and in various other publications. See this LINK
Flight Attendant Patty Young – Stopped Smoking on Airplanes. Patty is known by many as an aviation Joan of Arc. Her tenacity and commitment led to a successful suit against the tobacco industry that resulted in eliminating smoking on airplanes. She is on the Board of the Flight Attendant medical Research Institute (FAMRI) which funds anti smoking research. See this LINK
Flight Attendant Donna Hubbard – Raising Awareness of Human Trafficking Donna Hubbard will share the remarkable story of how she survived seven years of trafficking and transformed her experience to become Airline Ambassadors inspirational trainer, raising awareness of in the airline industry of one of the most important human rights issues of our time. Now as founder of Women of the Well Transition Center in Atlanta, she has transformed her own experience into a vehicle for service to others. See this LINK
Relief and Development workers in the 21st century are facing challenges unlike any we have seen before. Instability constitutes the greatest tax on our development investments and threatens human progress. It is critical to our national security that relief and development, diplomacy, and defense agencies work effectively together. AAI has a long tradition of cooperation with the Department of Defense (DoD) and local embassies (the Department of State or DOS) for humanitarian response. Our cooperation has now expanded to include all aspects of development activities in pre- and post-conflict and disaster environments where security conditions affect the type and scope of development programs.
It is in this spirit that AAI has become one of the first signatory NGO’s for the Civilian-Military Cooperation initiative of the U. S. Army, the Humanitarian Aid Division (HAD). This new Policy, and Division, complements the concepts contained in National Security Presidential Directive-44 and DoD Directive 3000.05 on stability operations. The Policy establishes the foundation for NGO-DOS-DoD cooperation in planning and implementation. At the same time, it ensures that these new initiatives do not divert signatory NGO’s from their core sustainable aid relief and development mission. It also authorizes the U. S. Department of State, through USAID and the DoD, to pursue and support organizational changes required to support civilian-military cooperation.
Since AAI’s experience in Bosnia, El Salvador, Kosovo and later during Hurricane Katrina in 2004, we started working more intimately with military components to bring coherence to this whole-of-government planning effort, particularly at the level of the military’s theater security cooperation planning and the country team-driven Country Assistance Strategy. It is critical that we adopt a coordinated approach across regions and countries in order to avoid fragmentation of our efforts. Identifying ways of working together will ensure that our joint development efforts can be maximally effective.
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Bravo to the selfless volunteers who drive the plane of our Children’s Medical Escort Program. The program has been headed by Margaret Whitehead who has worked as a full time volunteer since 1996! She ran a similar program for Eastern Airlines. She lost her husband of 48 years in December 2014 and has two daughters and three grandsons. Here are pictures and bios of Margaret and the coordinating team:
Margaret Whitehead, Director
“There are so many volunteer opportunities out there but to me, none more important than working with children in need. When trips don’t go as planned it does become stressful and frustrating; however, I can think of nothing I would rather do and cannot imagine not being able to work with our absolutely wonderful, kind and compassionate escorts. Not only have you truly helped so many children to have a better life, you are also the ones who have saved me this past year.”
Background: I was with Eastern Airlines over 25 years. I started in Reservations where I worked in several different cities, then worked as a Gate Agent, then Special Services Team Member in ATL Departure Services for many years. After Eastern shut down, I worked as a leasing agent for a large apartment complex then in 1996 I became Airline Ambassadors Children’s Escort Program Volunteer Coordinator. While at Eastern, I also ran a program for several years that used airline employees to escort orphans primarily from Korea, Thailand, and Ecuador to their adoptive families throughout the US. During this time I co-founded a large inter-country adoption agency that worked in Korea and several Central and South American countries. I have also served on the Board of Directors of Villa Hope, another inter-country adoption agency as well as the National Board of Healing the Children. My volunteerism has always been focused on children in need throughout the world.
Joanne Striker
I started working for AA in 1991 and retired in 2012, working on the Executive Platinum Desk. I began volunteering with Airline Ambassadors in the late 90’s. It all started with a mission trip to Haiti delivering humanitarian aid and now I am one of the coordinators for the Children’s Medical Escort Program. I have learned that you get so much more than you give and since we are all connected, it is only natural to want to help our fellow mankind.
Wayne Lee
My airline career started in 1972 when I joined American Airlines and continued for almost 35 years. I started in the Buffalo Reservations Office and eventually transferred to the reservations office near Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport. In 1974 I became a flight attendant. Through the years I was based at DFW, LAX, and ORD, with most of my flying career in the International division. After the 1993 flight attendant strike, I returned to school and obtained my RN degree. I continued to fly and worked in Hospice, College Health, and Pediatrics throughout the remainder of my career with AA. I retired from American in 2007 and retired from nursing in 2011. I now have a fun part time job as a House Manager in a 2500 seat theater in Rochester, NY.
I joined Airline Ambassadors in 2012 as a Medical Escort Coordinator. With my background in Reservations, International Travel and Pediatric Nursing, I felt it was a good fit and an excellent program to help children from around the world receive the needed medical care that is not available in their home countries. I am always in awe at the amount of time that so many active and retired volunteers from American and other airlines donate to Airline Ambassadors Intl. They continually amaze me and I am so grateful to them for all they do!
Connie Lowry
I started with AA in 1989. I started in RES then became an instructor. I first taught SABRE to new hires then I became an instructor at the learning center. There I taught outside companies that brought their classes to AA, like Sprint. I also worked at several city ticket offices. I retired in 1999. That was when I became involved with AAI. It has been a wonderful experience knowing that we are helping to change the lives of so many children.
Bravo to the selfless volunteers who drive the plane of our Children’s Medical Escort Program. The program has been headed by Margaret Whitehead who has worked as a full time volunteer since 1996! She ran a similar program for Eastern Airlines. She lost her husband of 48 years in December 2014 and has two daughters and three grandsons. Here are pictures and bios of Margaret and the coordinating team:
Margaret Whitehead, Director
“There are so many volunteer opportunities out there but to me, none more important than working with children in need. When trips don’t go as planned it does become stressful and frustrating; however, I can think of nothing I would rather do and cannot imagine not being able to work with our absolutely wonderful, kind and compassionate escorts. Not only have you truly helped so many children to have a better life, you are also the ones who have saved me this past year.”
Background: I was with Eastern Airlines over 25 years. I started in Reservations where I worked in several different cities, then worked as a Gate Agent, then Special Services Team Member in ATL Departure Services for many years. After Eastern shut down, I worked as a leasing agent for a large apartment complex then in 1996 I became Airline Ambassadors Children’s Escort Program Volunteer Coordinator. While at Eastern, I also ran a program for several years that used airline employees to escort orphans primarily from Korea, Thailand, and Ecuador to their adoptive families throughout the US. During this time I co-founded a large inter-country adoption agency that worked in Korea and several Central and South American countries. I have also served on the Board of Directors of Villa Hope, another inter-country adoption agency as well as the National Board of Healing the Children. My volunteerism has always been focused on children in need throughout the world.
Wayne Lee
My airline career started in 1972 when I joined American Airlines and continued for almost 35 years. I started in the Buffalo Reservations Office and eventually transferred to the reservations office near Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport. In 1974 I became a flight attendant. Through the years I was based at DFW, LAX, and ORD, with most of my flying career in the International division. After the 1993 flight attendant strike, I returned to school and obtained my RN degree. I continued to fly and worked in Hospice, College Health, and Pediatrics throughout the remainder of my career with AA. I retired from American in 2007 and retired from nursing in 2011. I now have a fun part time job as a House Manager in a 2500 seat theater in Rochester, NY.
I joined Airline Ambassadors in 2012 as a Medical Escort Coordinator. With my background in Reservations, International Travel and Pediatric Nursing, I felt it was a good fit and an excellent program to help children from around the world receive the needed medical care that is not available in their home countries. I am always in awe at the amount of time that so many active and retired volunteers from American and other airlines donate to Airline Ambassadors Intl. They continually amaze me and I am so grateful to them for all they do!
Connie Lowry
I started with AA in 1989. I started in RES then became an instructor. I first taught SABRE to new hires then I became an instructor at the learning center. There I taught outside companies that brought their classes to AA, like Sprint. I also worked at several city ticket offices. I retired in 1999. That was when I became involved with AAI. It has been a wonderful experience knowing that we are helping to change the lives of so many children.
Joanne Striker
I started working for AA in 1991 and retired in 2012, working on the Executive Platinum Desk. I began volunteering with Airline Ambassadors in the late 90’s. It all started with a mission trip to Haiti delivering humanitarian aid and now I am one of the coordinators for the Children’s Medical Escort Program. I have learned that you get so much more than you give and since we are all connected, it is only natural to want to help our fellow mankind.
On Nov. 4, 2015, Andres Valenzuela, President of Airline Ambassadors Colombia, presented at the Forum on Responsible Tourism in Bucaramanga, Colombia. The Forum was an initiative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime – UNODC that has been developing in the framework of cooperation with the Government of Santander. The forum was targeted for departmental authorities, public officials and service providers as well as the tourism industry in Bucaramanga and other local stakeholders in the field.
Santander, UNODC representatives from Medellin and Bucaramanga, the Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism, the Mayor’s office of Medellin, as well as Fundacion Renacer, working with victims of child sexual exploitation in both Bogota and Cartajena.
Airline Ambassadors is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization helping children worldwide.
Washington DC – USA TODAY announced Airlines Ambassadors International was recognized as one of the top best gift ideas for Business Travelers. http://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-gift-for-business-travelers/ Voters were impressed with the opportunity of giving the gift of paying it forward in the name of a business Traveler. The hero force program allows an individual to contribute monthly at three different levels. Contributions support Airline Ambassadors work helping orphans and vulnerable children worldwide. https://oldsite.airlineamb.org/eforms/hero-force/
“This is a great gift for the person who everything. It’s also a great way to show compassion and gratitude, ” said president and founder of Airline Ambassadors, Nancy Rivard. “We hope that today on Global Giving Tuesday shoppers and contributors will visit our website or click Hero Force to join. If you want your choice to be a GIFT we will send the recipient a note as well!
To join simply: Text the word as a message: “AirlineAMBHeroForce” Send to: 96362
Click the reply link, select any Hero option to support, as low as .99 per month.
Tuesday, December 1, 2015, #GIVINGTUESDAY, 12/1
About Airline Ambassadors International (AAI)
Airline Ambassadors International (AAI) helps orphans and vulnerable children worldwide by leveraging connections with the airline industry towards humanitarian 
service.
Volunteers escort children for life changing medical care, hand deliver humanitarian aid to children in orphanages, clinics and remote communities, and advocate and educate on child protection and human trafficking awareness.
About the USA Today awards:
A panel of experts picked the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Sarah Cloninger (Road Warriorette), Sandy Dhuyvetter (TravelTalkMEDIA), Christopher Elliott (USA TODAY), Rob Hard (Business Travel Destinations) and Lydia Schrandt (10Best Editor) were chosen based on their extensive business travel experience.
10Best and USA TODAY extend their congratulations to all the winners.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Gift for Business Travelers are as follows:
- Lo & Sons OG Overnight Bag
- Personalized Royce Nappa Leather Luggage Tags
- Knomad Portable Organizer
- Molton Brown Travel Luxuries Set
- Incase City Brief
- Airline Ambassadors Hero Force
- Jackery Mini
- GoToob
- Genius Pack 22″ Carry On Spinner
- Mujjo Leather Wallet Case for iPhon
“I was truly honored to lead AAI’s October mission to Shepherd of the Hills Children’s Foundation in the Philippines this year! Airline Ambassador volunteers treated children to a wave pool field trip in Subic Bay. We also enjoyed a beach excursion and bbq with games, crafts and lots of fun activities. For our project this time, we painted two of the boy’s homes and installed hand-made curtains.
Airline Ambassadors International promotes and enhances the lives of children around the world. Thank you for such an amazing experience in the Philippines!”
Christine Davison, AAI Mission Leader PS Everyone appreciated the generous donation of Wallaroo Hats!
TRAVEL TO DO GOOD TO NICARAGUA
Dec 4-7, 2015 Volunteer in local Schools, Host Holiday Party and Sponsor Angel Tree
You may sign up for or donate to the trip by clicking here.
Join The Airline Ambassadors and The Beauty for Ashes Project as we Travel to do Good to Nicaragua volunteer in the local school as well as host a special holiday party for the children of the Nueva Lavita landfill community
– We will celebrate the seaon with a special holiday lunch and activities for over 100 neighborhood children
– We also invite you to participate in a Holiday Giving Angel Tree by fulfilling the holiday wish of one child. Our 20 Angels are current recipients of The Beauty For Ashes Scholarship Program. You can help just by bringing some joy to brighten their lives, or sponsor a bicycle for $50. We NEED YOUR HELP IN MAKING THIS A SUCCESS.
ITINERARY
Day 1 Bienvenidos to Nicaragua.
Transfer from airport to Hotel Ticomo in Managua
Project Orientation and Group Dinner
Day 2 Work in Schools in Nueva Lavita Trash Dump Community
Meals: B, L, D
Day 3 Volunteer Project Holiday lunch and Angel Tree
Group Lunch
Transfer to volunteer project
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4
It is now time to Say Goodbye. You have traveled to do good and left your footprint in a positive way.
Transfer to airport for your late am flight home
$300 Per Person Double Occupancy Includes
– Basic/Comfortable/Standard Accommodations
– All Meals
– All local round trip transportation to airport and volunteer activities
– $60 Project donation
$100 holds your place!
Click HERE to register or pay for the trip
Spaces are limited
