September 15, 2006
Take Flight for Kids
This is a project that is close to my heart. The looks on the faces of young disabled pilots-for-a-day and the boost to their spirits given by Take Flight for Kids is unforgettable. You can see photos by organizer Dean McCully here.
Valley Medical Center Foundation ANNOUNCES “TAKE FLIGHT FOR KIDS”
Valley Medical Center Foundation, Santa Clara County, CA, is pleased to announce a partnership to produce the first annual "Take Flight for Kids" at the Hayward Executive Airport, Hayward, California, Saturday September 30, 2006, 9am-5:00pm.
Approximately 35 private airplane pilots will provide free, 30 minute airplane rides for up to 100+ young people with disabilities and special needs (plus 2 additional guest passengers each = 400-500 total flying passengers). The airplane rides will pass over points of local interest including the spectacular Coyote Hills, out over the Bay, then back over the magnificent fall East Bay countryside. During their flights, participants are encouraged to take the controls and experience the empowered exhilaration of flying an airplane.
The event is by invitation only. Invitations are distributed through partner nonprofit agencies.
Gates open at 9am thru 5pm. Flights depart from the Trajen FBO Network terminal of the Hayward Executive Airport at 19990 Skywest Drive Hayward, CA 94541. First flight is scheduled for 9:30am. Last flight is approximately 4:00 pm.
150 young persons with physically and developmentally challenges, and chronic illnesses are being pre-registered thru several partner organizations in Alameda County, Santa Clara County, and surrounding communities. Registering partner organizations include Valley Medical Center Foundation (VMC), AchieveKids, Axis Dance Company, Bridge School, Children's Hospital of Oakland, Clausen House, Disabled Student Resource Center, Environmental Traveling Companions (ETC), Friends of Children with Special Needs (FCSN), Hayward Area Recreation and Park District, Jewish Vocational and Career Counseling Service, JW House, Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers of Hayward, Morgan Center, Parents Helping Parents (PHP), Ronald McDonald House, San Jose Office of Therapeutic Services, Sensory Access Foundation, TransAccess, and numerous similar agencies. Each organization as been given a limited number of invitations and will be responsible for assigning invitations to appropriate participants.
A concurrent free assistive technologies festival is scheduled, complete with at least 3 dozen vendors of assistive technologies, visits from clowns and face painters, free food and refreshments for participants, and much more. The festival will also serve as an exciting "accessibility expo" with partners from dozens of accessible activities groups providing free samples and demonstrating their services & merchandise onsite.
Individual and corporate monetary and in-kind donations and sponsorships are needed and welcome.