We are sincerely grateful for the amazing support American Airlines has provided for our work helping orphans and vulnerable children.
This support and the Miles for Kids in Need, allows us to provide loving escorts for children traveling to the U.S. and back for donated surgery, on the most important journey of their lives. This is one of our most unique programs for airline personnel. See below this touching letter from the coordinators of the program:
We, the trip coordinators for the Airline Ambassadors Children’s Medical Escort Program would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for all the support given us by American Airlines over the past 19 years. Our airline employee and retiree volunteers donate their time to help make life better for children from around the world as they accompany them to various cities throughout the U.S. where they will have donated medical care that, in many cases means the difference between life and death for a child. American recognizes the importance of our volunteer service to these children and supports us every step of the way. For this we are very, very grateful and, in fact could not continue without this support.
With sincere appreciation,
Children’s Medical Escort Program 
Margaret Whitehead, Director
Connie Lowry
Wayne Lee
Joanne Striker
Georgeann Polk
Bravo to Brett Halverson who is the top fundraiser for Airline Ambassadors and he hasn’t even started college yet!
Brett Halverson has been associated with AAI since 2011 when, at 13 years of age, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout by collecting toys and supplies and hand-delivering them to the Zamni Bene Orphanage in Croix de Bouquets, Haiti for children orphaned by the 2010 earthquake. After a devastating hurricane in 2012, he also led his scout troop in collecting thousands of dental supplies for the tent camps of Port au Prince. Nancy Rivard, President of AAI personally escorted Brett to the orphanage, which enabled him to complete requirements to become an Eagle Scout. To thank her for that help, Brett decided to raise money toward one of AAI’s educational projects, the cost of which was $25,000.00. He first gave speeches to local civic groups in the Sacramento area, raising $550.00, and then applied for a grant for $24,450.00. On May 18th, 2015, the grant was approved and a check for $25,000.00 was sent to AAI. Brett is very proud to have contributed to the project which will help pay for school uniforms, supplies and food for 500 children in five different countries. Brett plans to travel this July to Colombia to see for himself one of the projects his initiative has impacted!
Brett is a graduate of Jesuit High School (’15) in Carmichael, CA. Active in sports, he qualified twice for the National Championships in saber fencing and he has a passion for cars of all types. Brett will attend Indiana University in the fall, majoring in business and industrial design.
Thanks to ML Murray, author of the delightful children’s book – Plane Manners, AAI team members enjoyed a great tour of FOX studios and newscasters were really interested to hear about our work combatting Human Trafficking.
We Are Airline Ambassadors Hero Force!
We Are Airline Flight Attendants, Pilots, Agents, Ground Personnel, Law Enforcement, Airport Security, and the concerned public – committed to putting an end to Child Trafficking, the #2 crime on Earth.
Submit tips, photos, videos to Airline Ambassadors AAI TIP Line (free on Google or ITunes)
It’s as easy as 1,2,3 to Save Children’s Lives
1. Join the Airline Ambassadors Hero Force 
Click HERE to donate, select any Hero option to support, as low as .99 per month. Note: SuperHero’s receive monthly updates on our fight to end child trafficking.
Identifying and Reporting Human Trafficking
KNOW THE INDICATORS
Indicator 1: The person has no control of his or her travel and identification documents.
Indicator 2: The person has no freedom of movement or social interaction.
Indicator 3: The person has no logical means of reaching, or lacks knowledge of his or her final destination.
Indicator 4: A child traveler does not seem to be accompanied by his or her parent or legitimate guardian.
Don’ts
Do not confront the suspected trafficker or suspected victim.
Do not draw unnecessary attention to the suspected trafficker or suspected victim that may alert them to your suspicions.
Do’s
Do report your observations. In addition to submitting video alerts, call the DHS tip line, you will be asked:
– Airline, flight number, and seat number;
– If the individual is currently in-flight;
– Arrival city and estimated time of arrival;
– Identities (names, citizenship, etc.) of suspected victims and/or suspected traffickers;
– Physical descriptions of the suspected victims and traffickers; and indicator(s) you saw or heard.
TIP LINES
AAI Tip Line (Google of ITunes) to report data rich information to law enforcement in real time. (Photos, email, text or video)
or call the DHS Hotline or 911
Call 866-347-2423 toll free in U.S. and Canada, 24 hour a day
Call 802-872-6199 (tolls apply) in any country in the world, 24 hours a day
For victims services call National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 and
email nancy@airlineamb.org to order one of our Flash Cards with the TIP # :
FLIGHT DECK COMMUNICATIONS
Follow your airline’s policy to report a tip immediately. This could be through ACARS or the Domestic Event Network (DEN). There may be a Federal Air Marshall (FAM) on your flight. While the FAM’s primary concern is aviation security, you may inform him or her of suspected human trafficking – if you can do so without compromising the FAM’s anonymity. Because of the sensitivity of the FAM’s mission, use the option only as a last resort.
Visit our Global Telethon www.OnNowTV.com/9143
Welcome Aboard To The Mission Of Our Lives!
Join us September 16 – 19, 2015, to distribute backpacks filled with school supplies and toiletries to the children of Diakonos’ Small Community of Family in Carrefour, Haiti and Kids’ House elementary school and other children in the community who are in danger of missing school because they cannot afford to purchase their school books and basic school supplies.
Help us send 60 disadvantaged school children living in Haiti to school this year fully furnished by collecting and donating new backpacks and the schools supplies found on the side list.
All donations MUST be in no later than September 4th, 2015.
Registration is $135.00
Deadline for registration will be August 21, 2015
Cost of mission trip is $540.00 (excluding airfare and food.) This includes a tax deductible donation of $100 to the Diakono’s Small Community of Family home to help with the children’s tuition and uniforms.
Leaving MIA to PAP: September 16th 10 AM Return PAP to MIA: September 19th 10:35 am Sign up at http://www.diakonosintl.org/volunteer- recruitment-form.html to receive more information
WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ENTREAT THE HELP OF YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND CO-WORKERS SO WE CAN BE A BLESSING TO 60 DISADVANTAGED SCHOOL CHILDREN. THEY CAN DONATE BY VISITING: http://www.diakonosintl.org
AT LEAST 1 BACKPACK AND SELECT SUPPLIES FROM THE LIST BELOW.
PENCILS / PENS: Blue, Red,
CRAYONS
RULERS
ERASERS
PENCIL SHARPENERS COMPASS SET GLUE
COMPOSITION BOOKS PENS/PENCIL HOLDERS CANDIES/COOKIES
BACKPACK/BACK TO SCHOOL MISSION TRIP ITINERARY: Total cost of the trip $540 (excluding airfare and meals)
Participants will be responsible for their meals except for lunch during the day of arrival and of school distribution.
The price of the mission trip per person includes lodging and transportation in Haiti, PAP airport’s gratuity as well as our donation and beach day on the last day, gas and $50 donation to Kominoté Ti Fanmi Nou de Diakonos Children’s Home to help with their tuition budget. We ask each participant to:
1) Please fill out the VOLUNTEER FORM. Scroll on the bottom and on the left you will see the PAYPAL links to pay for either your registration or reservation fee (Due to limited space availability a deposit of $135 per volunteer is required to reserve accommodation and transportation)- 2) Donate at least 1 BACKPACK to provide each participant with a school bag. (As a 501(c)(3) charitable program your gift may be tax deductible for federal income tax purposes)
Wednesday September 16th
MIA – PAP AA Flt 1665 10:15-12:15 Noon
2:00 pm – Transfer directly to Kominoté Ti Fanmi Nou de Diakonos Children’s Home 3:00 pm – Volunteer orientation and Welcome Lunch at KTFN
4:30 pm – Depart to Auberge du Quebec
Thursday September 17th
8:30 am – Depart for Kominoté Ti Fanmi Nou de Diakonos Children’s Home
9:00 am – Meet and greet the children and staff of Our Small Community of Family 10:00 am – Back to School Distribution
1:00 pm – Tour of Port-au-Prince
4:00 pm – Return to Auberge du Quebec
Friday September 18th
10:00 pm – Depart for Tour of Petionville
1:00 pm – Lunch at local Restaurant in Petionville
Saturday September 19th
7:00 am Depart for Airport Toussaint Louverture
PAP –Flt 377 10:35 Arrive in Miami – 12:45pm
DISCLAIMER: AIRLINE AMBASSADORS NOR DIAKONOS INTERNATIONAL WILL BE RESPONSIBLE IF VOLUNTEERS CHOOSE TO ARRIVE BEFORE OR DEPART AFTER THE PLAN DATES AND TIMES. VOLUNTEERS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE TO ARRANGE FOR THEIR HOTEL ROOM AND TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT.
“Train the Trainer”
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Flamingo Hotel, 3555 S. Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas NV 89109
The training is required before providing a public training for Airline Ambassadors on Human Trafficking Awareness and will be a great refresher for current trainers and we welcome new trainers as well!
Join us for this Yoga and Nature Charity Mission to Bogota, Colombia July 10 – 13 to brighten the lives of children at Orphanage “Rompiendo Cadenas” in Bogota, Colombia. Each day will start with optional yoga instruction and we will also share this with the children.
Thank you for your interest in attending our Mission to Bogota, Colombia “Reconnect with Nature” from July 10th to 13th, 2015. Please be sure to bring lots of love and smiles!! If you want to collect items from friends and relatives, you are allowed TWO checked bags free of charge on AA. Max weight is 50 pounds each. You can collect things like: toiletries, Towels, hotel shampoos and soaps, toothbrushes, hair accessories, underwear, clothing (ages 3 to 17), shoes, socks, toys, notebooks, pencils, coloring pencils,
The basic cost of this mission is $440.00 for single occupancy tourist room for 3 nights or $800.00 for two to share room ($400pp) The price includes:
- * 3 night hotel stay, tourist single occupancy Additional nights add $65.00 for single and $95.00 for two.
- * Daily Hot Breakfast included.
- * 3 day local transportation to our activities and shared taxi back to the airport.
- * Sunday bus transportation for all the kids and us to Mitanni Farm. (All day outdoor activities)
- * Sunday snacks and meals for all the kids and adults Does not include: Daily meals, except breakfast, and any other tour activities. The following room upgrades are available: From Tourist Room to Standard Room: add $8.00 per night X3 = $24.00 From Tourist Room to Suite Room: add $50.00 per night X 3= $150.00 Tourist Room: 215 sq. ft. of bedroom space. Standard Room: 365 sq. ft. of bedroom space plus living room. Suite Room: 613 sq. ft. of bedroom space plus living room, equipped kitchen and terrace. Basic Itinerary (subject to change)
Please email me alex.restrepo@airlineamb.org with any questions. Alex
See video from 2013 spring mission and enjoy this video montage – from similar mission in 2014 and follow up letter below.
Hello everyone,If you think it was just another weekend in your life, think again. It was a gift given to us, it was our gift given to them, and the only appropriate response is “gratefulness”. The appreciation of the incredible range of colors that nature give to us every day for our enjoyment and we take for granted so many times… We all looked at the sky and saw the clouds this weekend and we rarely do that in our everyday lives. We just think of the weather: good weather or bad weather. We all enjoyed the rain and the sun as we relaxed and appreciated the beauty of nature at the farm… None of us really cared about the rain, certainly not the kids. We have so many gifts and sometimes we don’t appreciate them. We open a faucet and there is hot water, cold water, we flip a switch and there is electrical light, we go to the bathroom and there is toilet paper and towels and drinkable water. Millions of people don’t know what it is to have all those 
gifts, but yet live very happy, like the kids from the foundation. They have never taken a hot shower in their lives. Each kid has an incredible story behind their faces — and sometimes we would never ever understand it. I wish you all open your heart to all these blessings and whoever meets you will be blessed by your eyes, your smile by your touch… just by your presence! Thank you for your presence in my life this weekend. I honor your friendship.
Love, Alex Restrepo
In the words of Terry Drew Karanan ” We serve not to be served, yet in the act of service we receive so much in return.“ Check out more of his thoughts here
Many thanks to Connie Turvey for leading three missions to Guatemala in November, February and March and inspiring more sponsorships giving children a key out of poverty.
She writes in her overview to volunteers: “I am a retired flight attendant from Southwest airlines. I came to Guatemala with one of my best friends in Feb 2008 to get out of the cold weather and I learned about Mayan Families. I came home and did a little research and decided to sponsor 7 students…obviously did not know what I was doing…. so I went back to check out Mayan Families the following April and decided they were miracle workers. I fell in love with the people and it has been history ever since. You will hear more of my testimony when you arrive in Guatemala. Happy and safe travels to you all. I am very excited about sharing what I love so much with all of you and especially those who are coming for the first time.
Connie or as I am known by the locals..Cony
Click here for more and a preview of next year’s missions: https://oldsite.airlineamb.org/wp-admin/post.php?post=4244&action=edit
Thoughts from 
Masako (Bunny) Doi
“I have been volunteering my time to escort children since 1999 have escorted over 100 children over the years from all over the world. They are from Nepal, Burkina Faso, Uzbekistan, Russia, China, Indonesia, Guyana, Liberia. Cameroon, Afghanistan, Honduras, Peru and many others countries. I have been to the places that most tourists won’t go.
Each of them have different medical problems. Some of them were born with heart problems, cleft palates, colostomy, club feet, etc.. Some of them were burn victims of kerosene oil for heating and hot oil for cooking.
We help non profit agencies like Healing the children, Chinese Agape foundation, and many others. By working with flight attendants, who know how to travel (even in challenging conditions, the agencies do not have to purchase tickets for an escort and save more $$ to further help these children.
I see it as we are the circle of love: we all are doing our small part to heal each child, one by one.
We go and get these children who were found by non profit organizations and bring them to USA, met by their foster families who will take care of them before and after surgeries, and when they are ready to go home, we meet them at the airport and take them home to their family. We, the escorts are the only ones who meet the children’s family which I think we play extremely important role as their sick or injured children are leaving with strangers to unknown place to have surgeries. It’s a huge responsibility to reassure their mother (family) that they will be well taken care of. These children come from extremely poor environment and don’t have the resources to have surgeries in their countries. Most of them have families, but some are orphans who live in orphanages.
It’s my privilege to be a part of something truly helping children in need – for them, it’s life changing.
Especially it’s my pleasure to bring healed children to their family.
This is the moment of my reward – to see them reunited. These experiences are my treasures. ”
Note from Margaret Whitehead, Director, Children’s Medical Escort Program
“
My background is totally airline. I worked for a large airline for 30 years before it filed chapter 7 bankruptcy and closed down. During the time I was working, I also co-founded two inter-country adoption agencies and coordinated a different sort of child escort program where fellow employees brought babies and toddlers primarily from Korea to their adoptive parents throughout the U.S. After my airline shut down Nancy Rivard, heard about me and asked me to head up the AAI Children’s Medical Escort Program. This was in 1995 and I’ve done this continually since then.
American Airlines has been invaluable to our program since they generously give our active AA employees high priority bookable passes when they go on escort trips. Without this benefit I really don’t think we could continue. The agencies for whom we provide airline escorts also use AA’s Miles for Kids in Need program that gives free confirmed space tickets to children traveling to the U.S. for donated medical treatment. No other airline does this.
We have approximately 250 current and also retired airline employees in our medical escort program, with about 85% being AA affiliated. The escorts travel on their regular days off and only their actual expenses are reimbursed. Many have been with us for well over 10 years and we normally escort 12-15 children each month. These children come primarily from various Central and South American countries, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, China, and Haiti.
Bravo to Mending Kids International
Thanks to our Mileage Bank with United Airlines hard work by Cristina, Rodrigo was able to make it from El Salvador to Los Angeles who operated on him to receive a new ear. Mending Kids provides life-changing surgical care to children worldwide. Over the years, thousands of children have received corrective, transformational surgeries that have given them a chance at longer, healthier and happier lives. Most of the surgeries we perform are to correct congenital heart defects, orthopedic abnormalities, severe scoliosis, and significant cranial facial deformities.
Cristina with Rodrigo
