Christina Andersen, the New York Regional Director for Airline Ambassadors, was awarded the prestigious Chairman’s Award from American Airlines in April for her more than ten years of leadership in supporting the UNICEF Change for Good program. Flight attendants known as Champions for Children volunteer to collect leftover change or donations on international AA flights to support UNICEF. This program is a unique way for flight attendants to make a difference and is now generating over $ 1 Million per year!
Airline Ambassadors helped re-launch the Champions for Children program on American Airlines.
Christina, also a Board member for Airline Ambassadors, was with us in Haiti after the earthquake where Airline Ambassadors brought in 17 airplanes of Aid and implemented a grant from UNICEF to build seven Safe houses throughout the country. See this Video
National Volunteer Month: A Heart for Others
American Airlines recognized PHX based Stefanie Lathos-Polanco during National Volunteer Month by highlighting her in the March/April edition of Celebrated Living, AA’s inflight magazine available in First and Business Class. They asked her to reflect on what Women’s History Month and National Volunteer month mean to her. Here is the article:
Spring is one of the most wonderful times of year. As a flight attendant, I have the privilege of seeing colors change and flowers bloom all across the country. It’s a chance for all of us to feel more alive, inspired and ready for a fresh start. It’s also a season that blends two celebrations close to my heart: Women’s History Month in March and National Volunteer Month in April. For me, the combination is natural. I’ve been volunteering since I was a little girl. My dad dedicated his entire career to volunteerism, and both of my parents instilled in me the importance of giving back. Doing this work, I learned that when you open the door to a young girl’s dreams, you can ignite her passion and enrich her life. And when you open her heart to helping others, you create lifelong connections and compassion. I also saw an opportunity to stand up for women and children, and empower them to take charge and make a difference.
That mission is what motivates my work with Girl Up, an initiative of the United Nations Foundation that helps girls’ dreams become reality no matter where they are born. It’s also why I volunteer as a nongovernmental representative of Airline Ambassadors International at the U.N.: to harness the power of travel – and the kindness of travelers – to help and protect underprivileged children. I’m proud to say American supports me every step of the way in these endeavors, in the same way they support giving back to the communities we serve. One example is our UNICEF Change for Good program, which allows customers to donate spare change on select international flights to help kids in need. Last year, that effort generated more than $1 million.
Less visible but equally as important is the work my colleagues and I do behind the scenes, supporting causes that affect all of us: the fight against cancer, combatting human trafficking, supporting our troops and more. My upbringing and career have offered me some incredible opportunities to pay it forward and to teach the next generation to do the same. As you read this, I hope you’ll consider how you can use your power and greatness to give back, because when we lift each other up, we all rise.
Stefanie Lathos-Polanco
Flight Attendant
Phoenix, Arizona (PHX)
Upcoming October mission to the Philippines coming soon for the website.
Contact Cheryl Robinson at hdchey@netscape.net
To give you a feel for the missions read this letter from Christine Davison, Mission Coordinator for team in April:
April 13, 2018
Dear AAI Volunteers, Family and Friends,
I am up before sunrise today after traveling across the world once again. As the morning light expands across the lake here in North Carolina, I am mesmerized by the glory of spring, the bird songs and new buds exploding with life. I feel refreshed, honored, and loved today to have shared such an incredible experience with all of you in the Philippines! Life is so precious, and our bond, with the children and with each other, carries us through this day and beyond. What I hold dear are the moments of joy, the glorious trees adorning Shepherd of the Hills Children’s Foundation (SOTH), and the laughter and tears shared with all of you. What I am realizing is that our time there is not enough and I want to stay longer. Sometimes our hurried and busy lives take us far away, but we have this special place in our hearts to return.
Our Airline Ambassadors International Spring Mission Trip 2018 was a huge success and I thank you for your participation. This was our first actual excursion with the Abatex community. It was an exciting change and the children loved it. Thank you Pastor Pascual and his wife Rizaline for making this possible for AAI and for sharing the traditional Filipino meal with us!
From the moment we stepped off of the bus at SOTH, we felt the love from the children and a sincere welcome home. It was great to be a part of the graduation ceremonies. It is our endeavor, at the request of Nathan after the passing of Nay Ruth, to include these children into the SOTH home for education, art and music. Our community sponsorship program is underway and I will be adding more children to the 
program in the next several weeks. The cost is only $23 a month, so if any of you would like to be a part of such a special program, please let me know? Thank you to the “Delta Girls”: Megan, Jamie and Heather for kicking off the program last spring with the sponsorship of Railey. He is a little “butterball” of energy and is all smiles. Also, thank you Katherine and Kathi for sponsoring Irish and Jayceren and a special thank you to our new sponsors, Andrew and Dee, for sponsoring the siblings Larr Avren and Bernadette. You are helping to make Nathan’s dream a reality!
All of us at AAI have a unique situation at Shepherd of the Hills in the Philippines. We stay right at the orphanage and create lifelong bonds with the children. This is absolutely priceless! I would like to give a heartfelt thank you to Connex and Leah for coordinating our efforts with AAI and making our stay at SOTH possible. Every thing was very organized and each time the food gets better and better. Thank you!
Our AAI sponsored Coastal Cleanup and beach and pool time at Punta de Uian was so wonderful! I enjoyed meandering from the beach to the pool. Our hot lunch was provided by SOTH and we enjoyed snacks and yummy watermelon and mango too. Also, the highlight for me was when Uncle Philip arrived! Someone told me I seemed noticeably happier and more relaxed once he was there. I am extremely fortunate to have a loving partner who flew half way around the world to be with me and the children (or the children and me, ha ha) I think this made my nephew Josh just as happy!
Our Filipino Cooking Class and Market Excursion went really well. From beginning to end, we learned what meats and vegetables to buy at the local market and how to, step-by-step, prepare the meal. Our AAI groups made pork menudo, chicken curry, vegetable spring rolls and chop suey. What a feast we had! I was especially impressed by the new cooking skills of Uncle Brian, Auntie Katherine and Uncle Hugo. Great job everyone!
Playing games with the kids is always fun. What I did not realize is that we had egg toss champions in our group. Our mother/daughter team of Auntie Joanie and Auntie Jamie were triumphant! Thank you Nathan for coordinating these efforts and leading the games. We had a lot of bonding and movie time with the children too.
Our Health and Wellness/CPR Workshops were fantastic! I want to give a BIG thank you to our team leaders with AAI and for all of your efforts. Our First
Aid and Health and Hygiene workshop was lead by Auntie Linda. Thank you to Auntie Kathi and Uncle Tyler for teaching the children the basics of first aid and good hygiene.
Our “Have a Heart/What’s Your Pulse” class was lead by Uncle Philip and assisted by Auntie Katherine and Uncle Joshua. At this station, the children learned how to take a pulse and the healthy benefits of exercise. Katherine made nametags with stickers with the heart rates of all of the kids. Josh was in charge of the stopwatch and timing. It was fun to watch the kids learn to take their pulses during rest and after jumping jacks!
Our AAI CPR Class was led by Auntie Megan. This was probably the most fun to watch as the children lined up to be a part it. Thank you to Auntie Janelle and Auntie Jamie for your infectious energy. Thanks to the influence of American Airlines and Delta, our CPR compressions were done the Bee Gee’s song Staying Alive!
Last, but not at all least, was our Heimlich Maneuver Workshop led by Uncle Hugo and assisted by Auntie Casey and Uncle Brian. This class had a slight comical element to it with Uncle Brian as the recipient of the Heimlich. We did, however, keep things in line with the seriousness of choking. Auntie Casey demonstrated how to give the Heimlich on a baby doll. I do believe that this class in particular, will save a life one day!
When I was asked to lead this spring mission, I wanted to do something different. I originally was hoping that my retired doctor friend “Doc” would join us from North Carolina or that Auntie Karen would be able to break away from her volunteer work with the American Red Cross. They both tried but the timing did not work out. I want to thank our AAI volunteers for stepping up to teach these basic first aid, health, hygiene, CPR and Heimlich Maneuver classes. I am honored to have shared something truly remarkable with the SOTH and community children.
Nothing is more FUN, FUN, FUN than an evening bonfire and marshmallow roasting with the kids! I felt transformed back to my own childhood while at the SOTH Campground. The sound of the crackling fire evoked so many memories for me. I hope that all of you experienced your own little “Private Idaho” that evening. Thank you again to our SOTH leaders who coordinated this and the triple marshmallow sticks. What a gooey, fun time!
The highlight of our AAI trip this time was the wedding of John Anthony and Karla, now known as Mr. and Mrs. De La Fuente. It was a beautiful ceremony! We were all asked to wear a shade of peach and some of us even had respected places within the wedding ceremony. I have witnessed the true love of John and Karla over the years and could not be happier for them! Thank you to our SOTH family for including us in all of this. Maybe I will be next…
In closing, I want to say that I am humbled and truly grateful to all of you. The sun is fully shining now on the lake here in North Carolina and the morning mist is no longer. It is my hope that I will always return to the Philippines to be surrounded by love and hopefully to leave a little behind. Thank you to Auntie Linda for bringing the team safely back to Manila. Thank you to everyone who endured the long flights to be a part of this. And most of all, thank you to God for bringing us together once again.
With Sincere Love,
Christine Davison
Airline Ambassadors International and Just Ask Prevention Project teamed up to host an evening of mingling and merriment, but with a mission: to raise funds for the tools and resources needed in the fight against Human Trafficking on June 8, 2018 at the Hilton Springfield in Springfield, Virginia.
Here is local TV Coverage of the Event
Bill Woolf & Jodi O’Hern of Just Ask, and Nancy Rivard & Kavita Nanavati of Airline Ambassadors International, hosted the event who have been leading the fight to educate and advocate for human trafficking awareness in the local communities and aviation community around the world.
The evening’s entertainment included:
- Live music performed by Downland
- A silent auction for items including two round trip tickets to Hawaii, an aerial tour of a scenic area within150 miles outside the Washington D.C. area, and many more items
- A raffle for other great prizes and gifts including 50/50 cash raffle
- Hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar
- Photos with Kavita Nanavati, Mrs. District of Columbia USA Ambassador 2018
Kavita acted as MC for the evening which included a talk by Barbara Wilson, author of “Mute, but now I speak”. Trafficking survivor Barbara Amaya also attended the event and had a table with her books also – “Nobody’s Girl”.
UN Agency Urges Mandatory Training to Combat Human Trafficking on Flights
FILE PHOTO: Activists take part in a ‘Walk for Freedom’ to protest against human trafficking, in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, October 17, 2015. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch/File PhotoREUTERS
4/23/2018 BY ALLISON LAMPERT
MONTREAL (Reuters) – Airlines should offer mandatory training to prevent human trafficking, the United Nations’ aviation agency said in a new document that could further empower cabin crew on the front lines of global efforts to combat such trafficking.
Civil aviation authorities should “require” carriers to teach staff to identify and respond to trafficking, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said in new training guidelines for cabin crew co-published on Monday with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
While the United States already requires mandatory training for flight attendants, it was not known whether other countries that don’t have similar rules would follow suit.
Combating human trafficking, estimated as the world’s second most profitable trans-national crime according to the document, has emerged as a growing concern for global aviation. Airline trade group International Air Transport Association is eying ways to strengthen the training efforts its members are already doing “which should be announced later this year,” an IATA spokeswoman said.
“It (airline involvement) is starting to spread,” said Martin Maurino, safety, efficiency and operations officer with ICAO’s air navigation bureau. However, training programs offered by airlines like Emirates [EMIRA.UL] and budget carrier AirAsia are done voluntarily.
Canada’s Sky Regional is the first airline globally to train its pilots and flight attendants using the new UN guidelines on the identification and response to trafficking, Maurino and the carrier’s in-flight director, Mikaela Dontu, said.
Training advocates argue that countries should make such programs mandatory for airline flight attendants, pilots and ticket agents. “It’s excellent if they can do it voluntarily but the airlines weren’t doing that,” said Nancy Rivard, a former flight attendant and president of the non-profit Airline Ambassadors International. Flight attendants, who can spend hours with suspected traffickers and their victims in the air, have been credited with multiple rescues. While the guidelines apply to cabin crew, ICAO also recommends training pilots and ticket agents. “The issue of trafficking and combating this issue involves several stakeholders,” the guidelines say. The UN guidelines advise flight attendants not to confront traffickers or try to rescue the victim themselves. More than 70,000 U.S. airline staff have been trained to spot smugglers and their victims under the Blue Lightning initiative, launched in 2013 with the support of JetBlue, Delta Air Lines and others.
(Reporting By Allison Lampert; Additional reporting by Tim Hepher in Paris; Editing by Bernadette Baum; Editing by)
Copyright 2018 Thomson Reuters. Link to story here
The new International Civil Aviation Organization Guidelines will be formally introduced on May 28 at the office of the UN High Commission on Human Rights. Donna Hubbard has been invited as keynote speaker to share about the work of Airline Ambassadors International See Below :
Ms. Donna Hubbard
Human Trafficking Awareness Trainer
Airline Ambassadors International
Dear Ms. Hubbard,
I have the pleasure to inform you that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) will hold the Joint Forum on Combating Trafficking in Persons in Aviation at the Centre International de Conférences Genève, in Geneva, Switzerland on 28 May 2018.The forum will bring together for the first time, in a high-level setting, Member States, aviation industry, partners and key players in the field of human rights to discuss the important role that aviation plays in addressing the problem of trafficking in persons. The forum will also include an interactive exhibit to gain hands-on knowledge of issues related to trafficking in persons.
I would like to extend an invitation to you to speak at the forum and present the Airline Ambassadors International’s initiative for combating human trafficking in aviation to combat human trafficking and the impact of trafficking in persons on victims. Information pertaining to the forum, tentative programme and online registration is available at: www.icao.int/meetings/HTForum2018.
Yours sincerely,
Director
Air Navigation Bureau
cc: President, Airline Ambassadors International
Airline Ambassadors inspiring survivor trainer, Donna Hubbard was honored as a one of five National Mothers of Achievement at the 2018 Luncheon in Washington DC on April 24, 2018. The inspiring event was attended by American Mothers at their annual conference with women from every state. Donna mesmerized the crowd opening with a song, and riveting everyone with her powerful testimony and how she turned her life around to a great job as flight attendant for American Airlines and her own non profit – Women at the Well Transition Center.
Also honored was Tonya Stafford, also another amazing survivor of human trafficking with her organization “It’s Going to be All Right”. Tonya was introduced by Sheila Wright-Greene of American Airlines and offered to become a trainer with our Airline Ambassadors team. Kudos to all Awardees!
Dear AAI Volunteers, Family and Friends,
I am up before sunrise today after traveling across the world once again. As the morning light expands across the lake here in North Carolina, I am mesmerized by the glory of spring, the bird songs and new buds exploding with life. I feel refreshed, honored, and loved today to have shared such an incredible experience with all of you in the Philippines! Life is so precious, and our bond, with the children and with each other, carries us through this day and beyond.
What I hold dear are the moments of joy, the glorious trees adorning Shepherd of the Hills Children’s Foundation (SOTH), and the laughter and tears shared with all of you. What I am realizing is that our time there is not enough and I want to stay longer. Sometimes our hurried and busy lives take us far away, but we have this special place in our hearts to return.
Our Airline Ambassadors International Spring Mission Trip 2018 was a huge success and I thank you for your participation. This was our first actual excursion with the Abatex community. It was an exciting change and the children loved it. Thank you Pastor Pascual and his wife Rizaline for making this possible for AAI and for sharing the traditional Filipino meal with us!
From the moment we stepped off of the bus at SOTH, we felt the love from the children and a sincere welcome home. It was great to be a part of the graduation ceremonies. It is our endeavor, at the request of Nathan after the passing of Nay Ruth, to include these children into the SOTH home for education, art and music. Our community sponsorship program is underway and I will be adding more children to the program in the next several weeks. The cost is only $23 a month, so if any of you would like to be a part of such a special program, please let me know? Thank you to the “Delta Girls”: Megan, Jamie and Heather for kicking off the program last spring with the sponsorship of Railey. He is a little “butterball” of energy and is all smiles. Also, thank you Katherine and Kathi for sponsoring Irish and Jayceren and a special thank you to our new sponsors, Andrew and Dee, for sponsoring the siblings Larr Avren and Bernadette. You are helping to make Nathan’s dream a reality!
All of us at AAI have a unique situation at Shepherd of the Hills in the Philippines. We stay right at the orphanage and create lifelong bonds with the children. This is absolutely priceless! I would like to give a heartfelt thank you to Connex and Leah for coordinating our efforts with AAI and making our stay at SOTH possible. Every thing was very organized and each time the food gets better and better. Thank you!
Our AAI sponsored Coastal Cleanup and beach and pool time at Punta de Uian was so wonderful! I enjoyed meandering from the beach to the pool. Our hot lunch was provided by SOTH and we enjoyed snacks and yummy watermelon and mango too. Also, the highlight for me was when Uncle Philip arrived! Someone told me I seemed noticeably happier and more relaxed once he was there. I am extremely fortunate to have a loving partner who flew half way around the world to be with me and the children (or the children and me, ha ha) I think this made my nephew Josh just as happy!
Our Filipino Cooking Class and Market Excursion went really well. From beginning to end, we learned what meats and vegetables to buy at the local market and how to, step-by-step, prepare the meal. Our AAI groups made pork menudo, chicken curry, vegetable spring rolls and chop suey. What a feast we had! I was especially impressed by the new cooking skills of Uncle Brian, Auntie Katherine and Uncle Hugo. Great job everyone!
Playing games with the kids is always fun. What I did not realize is that we had egg toss champions in our group. Our mother/daughter team of Auntie Joanie and Auntie Jamie were triumphant! Thank you Nathan for coordinating these efforts and leading the games. We had a lot of bonding and movie time with the children too.
Our Health and Wellness/CPR Workshops were fantastic! I want to give a BIG thank you to our team leaders with AAI and for all of your efforts. Our First Aid and Health and Hygiene workshop was lead by Auntie Linda. Thank you to Auntie Kathi and Uncle Tyler for teaching the children the basics of first aid and good hygiene.
Our “Have a Heart/What’s Your Pulse” class was lead by Uncle Philip and assisted by Auntie Katherine and Uncle Joshua. At this station, the children learned how to take a pulse and the healthy benefits of exercise. Katherine made nametags with stickers with the heart rates of all of the kids. Josh was in charge of the stopwatch and timing. It was fun to watch the kids learn to take their pulses during rest and after jumping jacks!
Our AAI CPR Class was led by Auntie Megan. This was probably the most fun to watch as the children lined up to be a part it. Thank you to Auntie Janelle and Auntie Jamie for your infectious energy. Thanks to the influence of American Airlines and Delta, our CPR compressions were done the Bee Gee’s song Staying Alive!
Last, but not at all least, was our Heimlich Maneuver Workshop led by Uncle Hugo and assisted by Auntie Casey and Uncle Brian. This class had a slight comical element to it with Uncle Brian as the recipient of the Heimlich. We did, however, keep things in line with the seriousness of choking. Auntie Casey demonstrated how to give the Heimlich on a baby doll. I do believe that this class in particular, will save a life one day!
When I was asked to lead this spring mission, I wanted to do something different. I originally was hoping that my retired doctor friend “Doc” would join us from North Carolina or that Auntie Karen would be able to break away from her volunteer work with the American Red Cross. They both tried but the timing did not work out. I want to thank our AAI volunteers for stepping up to teach these basic first aid, health, hygiene, CPR and Heimlich Maneuver classes. I am honored to have shared something truly remarkable with the SOTH and community children.
Nothing is more FUN, FUN, FUN than an evening bonfire and marshmallow roasting with the kids! I felt transformed back to my own childhood while at the SOTH Campground. The sound of the crackling fire evoked so many memories for me. I hope that all of you experienced your own little “Private Idaho” that evening. Thank you again to our SOTH leaders who coordinated this and the triple marshmallow sticks. What a gooey, fun time!
The highlight of our AAI trip this time was the wedding of John Anthony and Karla, now known as Mr. and Mrs. De La Fuente. It was a beautiful ceremony! We were all asked to wear a shade of peach and some of us even had respected places within the wedding ceremony. I have witnessed the true love of John and Karla over the years and could not be happier for them! Thank you to our SOTH family for including us in all of this. Maybe I will be next…
In closing, I want to say that I am humbled and truly grateful to all of you. The sun is fully shining now on the lake here in North Carolina and the morning mist is no longer. It is my hope that I will always return to the Philippines to be surrounded by love and hopefully to leave a little behind. Thank you to Auntie Linda for bringing the team safely back to Manila. Thank you to everyone who endured the long flights to be a part of this. And most of all, thank you to God for bringing us together once again.
With Sincere Love,
Christine Davison
Martha’s Leelanau Table invites you to the 3rd Annual
‘May the 4th Be With’ You Celebration
A special evening to celebrate Music, Food and Art,
while supporting Human Trafficking Awareness
April 22, 2018 – Suttons Bay – Join local talent at Martha’s Leelanau Table for an evening with musicians and artists Sandy Dhuyvetter, AKA Mama Fett, and George Powell. Together they bring about the sweet music of DOLCE and will be playing at Martha’s during the Friday May the 4th Celebration from 6 – 9pm.
Sandy is also known for her development and production work on the original 3 Boba Fett Costumes created for Empire Strikes Back in 1977-78. Her nickname Mama Fett came about years later when she recreated a duplicate of the original helmet for a Make a Wish Project a few years back. Sandy will be signing autographs during the evening.
The organizer of the Make a Wish Project, Art Andrews, said this about Sandy, “This is a really big deal to me, perhaps one of the biggest in this event. For many who don’t know, Sandy is one of the artists involved in the original creation of Boba Fett. She has gotten very little credit or notoriety for it, but her work helped shape the imagination of so many 
of our childhoods. The 2nd Prototype Boba Fett costume seen on your original Kenner Boba Fett figure card? That was Sandy. All of the early Empire Strikes Back promotional photos/posters? That was Sandy as well. Boba’s helmet from Return of the Jedi (my favorite)? That was also Sandy. This lady’s work not only helped shape our youth, but has helped respark the imagination of thousands through sites like The Dented Helmet, LLC, Mandalorian Mercs Costume Club, The 501st Legion and other Star Wars based fan clubs, not to mention thousands and thousands of pieces of fan art, Sandy is surely Fett’s “mom”.
What is a really big deal to Sandy is Human Trafficking Awareness. Sandy was one of the first trainers in 2010 for Airline Ambassadors International, a non-profit organization providing Human Trafficking Awareness. She had taught more awareness classes than any other trainer at AAI by the time she left San Francisco in 2013. She continues to assist AAI by supporting the trainers with fund raisers, travel and other needs. For more information go to: http://www.airlineamb.org
DOLCE with Sandy and George will be entertaining Martha’s guests with music from Europe and beyond. For more information on Dolce go to:
Come enjoy the delicious food at Martha’s and music of DOLCE. There will be handouts and more information on Human Trafficking available. Don’t forget, Sandy will autograph Boba Fett photos and if you have something you want signed, please bring it. Stay for dinner or just stop by to say hello.
May the Force be with You and we hope to see you at Martha’s on May the 4th.
For Reservations call 231 271 344
About Martha’s Leelanau Table
Martha Ryan is the creator and proprietor of Martha’s Leelanau Table. Celebrating 10 years in the county, Martha continues serving the community delectable blend of mouthwatering foods surrounded by local artwork and music. When the weather permits she supports local musician in her outdoor patio. Martha, her son Matt, and daughter-in-law Andi are known for stepping to the forefront when there is a worthy cause or an effort to support.
Located at 413 North St. Joseph in Suttons Bay, Michigan, Martha’s has been a favorite gathering spot for friends, family, visitors, and regulars alike for over 10 years. Martha’s features breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus a full espresso bar, fine pastries and beer, wine and cocktails – it’s the place to go to enjoy specialties from Leelanau County.
About DOLCE with Sandy and George
The mandolin and accordion present a natural organic sound that is unique, romantic and sweet. Then there are times when sweet and romantic become country and rock. Sandy and George are accomplished musicians that play many styles with many good friends. DOLCE is the sweet music of the mandolin and accordion, or as the Italians say ‘mandolino’ and the ‘fisarmonica’. Sandy and George play every Friday night at Martha’s Leelanau Table in Suttons Bay from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
For more information Contact:
MattRyan76@live.com
or
Sandy@suttonsbay.com
Nancy Rivard, President of Airline Ambassadors participated on a panel at the Youth for Human Rights at the Dirkson Senate Office Building in Washington, DC on April 13, following a day of lobbying on the Hill for Human Rights Education.
Dr. Mary Shuttleworth had just concluded her 15th Annual World Tour. Mistress of ceremonies was Kerri Kasem, daughter of the famous America’s Top 40 announcer, Casey Kasem and a radio personality in her own right. We are going to have flags from all the countries where Mary went on her tour and report on what she found.
Presidential Volunteer Service Awards were also presented at this inspirational event!
The Paris trips are so complicated that the Children’s Medical Escort Team deserves special applause. This escort involved five different escorts and four different children. From Escort Director, Margaret Whitehead:
Daniel’s wife with Ibrahim
Ibrahim spent the night with Daniels family before his trip home.
“This is Daniel Fetys’ photo album. I love the pic of Ibrahim and the Fetys’ big dog! Daniel is an ASF escort, we should recognize him for volunteering to do this trip, knowing that the AF pilots were on partial strike and many of the flights were canceled. Their flight did cancel so we got permission from the CDG police for Daniel to take Ibrahim home where he spent the night with the Fetys family. The next day Daniel took him home to Ouagadougou and brought 3 kids back all by himself and all of them had problems walking.
Ibrahim had orthopedic surgery on his leg and was so anxious for his father to see him walk normally. Linda Lory Blixt, DFW F/A and Tracie Springer, PHX F/A left on 23Apr with Ibrahim. They finally returned on 26Apr with Afiya, Abdoul, and Amadine. See this touching story written about the trip by Medical Escort Linda Blixit:”
Traci Springer, Ibriham and Linda Brixit
Wow! What an incredible adventure. I will never forget my first medical escort trip to Paris and back. First the unknown whether the trip would happen or not. Everyone was hopeful, however an Air France pilot strike made for difficult planning. We all agreed to go for it…and that’s exactly what we did!! And what an awesome dose of healthy hope an entire village of people pulled off for four sweet souls. First up… returning Ibriham back to Paris so he could catch his flight back to Africa. He was so sweet and now quite Americanized after his year long stay in the states. He said kids use to make fun of him…but… not anymore! He now walks as proud as a peacock…and was able to do so all the way home! Ask awesome ASF escort Daniel Fetys who allowed him to spend the night at his home in Paris when his flight cancelled until the following day. Daniel has the dance video to prove the kid can move.
When I met Ibriham and my sidekick escort Tracie Springer in Philly… we all hit it off from the start. Ibriham wanted a vanilla shake for the road…he said it was his favorite ~ so a Smash Burger shake it was. He was so polite and sweet. He spoke of a party his host family had for him the day before he left. It was a bittersweet departure for him. You could sense his American adventure now tugs at his heart as he is forever torn between two worlds. How could anyone…young or old ever be the same. Sad to leave, yet oh so anxious to go!
Daniel Fetys at the homecoming with Ibraim and his father, who had never seen the little boy walk before!
Once in Paris Daniel Fetys took over. What a great guy he is with a genuine heart of gold. We departed for the hotel after saying our bittersweet goodbye~
claimed he didn’t speak English and was not so willing to help…but eventually it all worked out and before we knew it we were reunited with Daniel…and met the kids for the first time. They would soon melt my heart. I will never forget Amadines trip to the restroom before boarding the plane. So quiet and shy…I had to carry her in to the restroom. It didn’t take much for her to throw caution to the wind. All it took was the automatic hand dryer near the sink once she washed her hands. She was so excited. She literally danced underneath the rush of air and noise. From then on I knew we had won her heart too. She ran so fast back to the gate smiling and happy I had to double step to keep up her pace. She was joyful and smart… speaking English, French and native African. 
Afiya…which means healthy one in Zwahili…(as we have a Zebra at the Phoenix Zoo where I worked for many years with the same name)….is just that…confident and feisty and was the best eater of all. Food is what made her dance. She would sway back and forth doing the happy dance as she ate anything you put in front of her that could be consumed. It was the fuel for her soul. She protected it too as the girls had a few occasions where they guarded their goods. They are strong and resilient! The precious Prince Abdoul taught me the most about having to accept what we have no say about. This little pint-sized peanut was tough. More than once he fought back his tears of sadness and confusion. It was tough to get him to dance. So little and unsure of it all yet still allowing to trust the 
unknown with perfect strangers. He is my hero!Here is a pic from Simone Drews and Adalid Cortes waiting for their flight to Tegucigalpa:
“Hello Wayne and Becky,
I am back in CLT after a long day…Everything went very well. No delay: we arrived even early in TGU. I went through customs and immigration’s with Adelid and a wheelchair was waiting for us. I was very impressed with the TGU airport agents especially Yessica Pineda who went with me through customs to meet the parents and family and then back through customs again to take my flight back. It really helped me a lot as I sped through the different check points. She even upgraded me to first class on the TGU MIA flight!
The family was waiting for Adelid. There were tears of joy at the family reunion. I will send a picture. When I arrived in MIA on my way home, I decided to take the earlier flight at 5:20 pm. The flight was oversold so I took the jumpseat. It was better than waiting 2 hours..
Wayne, you did an incredible job organizing everything for my trip!!!
Simone”
Healing the Children Wisconsin did a great post about Rachel coming to the US recently escorted by Katherine Panucci and Cindy Sinkler. Flights were over-booked so Cindy and Rachel rode the bus for the last leg of the trip to meet Rachel’s Host family in Wisconsin. Here is the story and the pictures of the trip:
After a long day of travel, Rachel is finally in Milwaukee with escort- Cindi, host parents – Andrew and Claire, and Healing the Children Board members- Joe and Sara. Thank you everyone and Welcome to Wisconsin Rachel!
Here is another cute pic from the Healing the Children website. What miracles are possible through our selfless escorts!
