Angel Flight NE

Farmingdale, NY, March 26, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Angel Flight, a network of over 1,500 pilots with over 70 of those pilots based right here on Long Island, will hold its third annual Long Island benefit—A Wing and A Heart—at the American Airpower Museum at the Farmingdale Airport, New York beginning at 5:30 p.m. on May 22, 2008.

This charitable evening is for the benefit of Angel Flight NE; an organization dedicated to providing no cost transportation to children and adults in need of life saving medical treatment far from the place they call home. The event—A Wing and A Heart—is aptly named to raise awareness and funding to keep “Angel Flights” soaring for those in critical need.

This year’s event will be unlike any other to date, with a new flight plan that somehow was filed shortly before D-Day. When guests arrive, they will be transported to a time shaped by the sounds, machines and heroism of a people and a nation reaching for its proudest moment—WWII. The American Airpower Museum is the perfect venue to recreate this great era.

The squadron – “Warbirds Over Long Island” has already received its orders and will be on a mission that evening to perform an exciting and special air show that is not to be missed. The flyboys will be piloting a Boeing PT-17 Stearman, a Curtiss-Wright P-40 and a North American P51.

Founder of AFNE, Larry Camerlin will bring the assembly together in the mess hall for a special presentation with heartfelt stories from Angel Flight families and debrief of several missions flown by AFNE volunteer pilots and their earth angel ground crews.

Entertainment will bring the feeling of WWII to the forefront—with music, dancers and the museum’s VIP tours throughout the evening. A silent auction and a variety of raffle prizes will keep the energy high and the spirit of giving alive.

Angel Flight NE—AFNE, is a member of the nationwide Air Charity Network of more than 7,000 general aviation pilots that are called on to fly ambulatory children and adults to various treatment centers for access to life-saving medical care—free of charge.

Angel Flight NE, a non-profit organization that has answered over 38,000 flight requests and has flown over 7.5 million miles, began its successful operations in May 1996. Free air transportation is provided to ca children and adults who need medical care but do not have access to commercial airlines, cannot afford to fly a commercial carrier, or cannot use any other mode of transportation due to their particular medical condition or the distance of travel required.

Pilots volunteer their aviation skills and time, fueling their own private airplanes to transport patients and families of patients for diagnosis and treatments that would not otherwise be available to them. Flights are provided as often as necessary. Emergency flights are reserved for those who need to visit critically ill or injured family members, for patients needing organ transplants, or for organ and blood donations. “We even make compassion flights and provide air care wherever there is a compelling need,” says Larry Camerlin, founder of AFNE.

All of the flights are paid for by the pilots themselves, and transportation to and from airports for patients and families is provided by ground volunteers called “Earth Angels.” Mission coordination and community outreach/public education and pilot recruitment are paid for through generous contributions from corporate sponsors, organizations, charitable gifts, community service groups, churches and individuals.

“Our Long Island Angels are made up of over 60 Angel Flight Pilots and a growing corps of Earth Angels,” says Rudy Holesek, Volunteer Pilot and Committee Chair for A Wing and A Heart. Holesek continues, “We couldn’t ask for a more suitable location and time for the benefit—the American Airpower Museum that replicates the historic 1940’s era situated at Republic Airport. Everyone will go home with something—especially a new sense of compassion and respect for our patients, their families and the volunteers of Angel Flight.”

For additional information about attending this event please contact Angel Flight NE at 718-932-6641.

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Angel Flight NE is a member of the nationwide Air Charity Network charitable network of over 7,000 general aviation pilots. Angel Flight NE 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, is based at the Lawrence Municipal Airport in North Andover, MA, and was founded in May, 1996. Angel Flight NE provides free air transportation by volunteer pilots in private aircraft for patients and their families who desperately need life-saving medical treatment. Our volunteer corps of over 1,500 pilots and 80 Earth Angels (ground Volunteers) is currently scheduling over 100 flights a week. Proceeds from the “A Wing and A Heart” Long Island Benefit will help provide even more flights for men, women and children who need access to critical medical care. Our Mission: “to facilitate access to healthcare by arranging and providing free air transportation in private aircraft by volunteer pilots.”

For more information on how to get help from Angel Flight call 1-800-549-9980. To make a donation, please visit the www.angelflightne.org website or call Bill Woodard at 781-932-6641.

Long Island Media Contacts:
Rudy Holesek
Volunteer Pilot and Committee Chair for “A Wing and A Heart” LI benefit
631-835-8770
RHolesek@ApolloHVAC.com

Karen Ferraro
Committee member, “A Wing and A Heart” LI Benefit and Earth Angel
631-294-5686
karen@wellnessexpressions.com a division of AKLYN & CO.