MESA, Ariz. … September 30, 2009 … Native Air, a division of one of the nation’s leading air medical services provider, Omniflight Helicopters, Inc., announced today that it has aligned with Payson, Ariz.-based Gracie Lee Haught Children’s Memorial Fund as part of its Flight for a Cause fundraising program, whereby the company supports local charities, affiliates and organizations within the communities it serves.
Under the new program, Native Air will donate $10 for each air medical transport it completes throughout Arizona during the months of October, November and December 2009 to the Gracie Lee Haught Children’s Memorial Fund. Flights include those flown from all Native Air’s 12 helicopter bases and three airplane locations in throughout the state. These bases are located in Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Casa Grande, Buckeye, Lake Havasu, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Show Low, Payson, Globe, Kearny and Deer Valley. Native Air employs about 250 from these locations.
The Gracie Lee Haught Children’s Memorial Fund was established in 2005 by Mogollon Health Alliance, a not-for-profit organization whose primary focus is on health education, following a tragic accident in 2004 which took the life of 3½-year-old Gracie Lee Haught of Payson. She and her family were burning fallen bark beetle trees on their property when the wind shifted and blew black smoke into Gracie Lee Haught’s grandparents view and she was accidentally run over.
The fund works in conjunction with Mogollon Health Alliance to provide financial and emotional support to families suffering from the fallout of tragic accidents and unexpected emergency situations and helps those in need during the most difficult of times. Each case requesting financial and medical assistance from the foundation is reviewed by Mogollon Health Alliance. Additionally, education about safety precautions and related events have become the focus of the organization, including the provision of bike helmets to elementary school children, teaching children life-saving skills and offering car seats to those families that cannot afford to buy them.
To launch this fundraising campaign, Native Air will host a reception on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 9:00 AM local time at Payson Regional Medical Center, 807 S. Ponderosa Street, Payson, Arizona 85541. On hand will be members of Omniflight’s and Native Air’s management team as well as representatives from Mogollon Health Alliance, leadership at Payson Medical Center and the family of Gracie Lee Haught.
“Native Air’s mission each and every day we fly is to provide safe air medical transports. The alignment with the Gracie Lee Haughty Children’s Memorial Fund is a natural one in that together, we can work to promote the importance of safety and strive to prevent horrific accidents through education and support across local Arizona communities,” said Rob Campion, director of business development at Native Air.
Robert A. Peiser, Omniflight chairman and chief executive officer, added: “We are very pleased to forge this new partnership with the Gracie Lee Haught Children’s Memorial Fund and Mogollon Health Alliance. Safety is at the forefront of all we do at Omniflight and Native Air. This opportunity affords us the platform to share its importance with and raise awareness among the entire Arizona community through education, support and preventative measures.” Jan Parsons, chief operations officer for the fund, noted: “Gracie still touches so many lives today with the efforts made possible by the success of her memorial fund. Now, with the assistance of and commitment from Native Air, we are able to further spread the safety message as we strive to prevent accidents and come to the aid of those families who struggle to provide critical medical care for their children.”
Native Air continues its focus on community involvement and social responsibility with its Flight for a Cause fundraising program. In May2009, Native Air donated nearly $15,000 to the Phoenix Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® from its Flight for the Cure program, which ran from December 2008-February 2009.
About Gracie Lee Haught Children’s Memorial Fund The Gracie Lee Haught Children’s Memorial Fund was established in October 2005 in memory of Gracie Lee Haught. Its mission is to help others in need of funds for medical bills. Funds raised are put aside -- in their entirety -- in a money market account for children’s health programs as well as for providing family assistance for children’s medical bills.
About Omniflight and Native Air
Mesa, Ariz.-based Native Air is a division of Omniflight Helicopters, Inc. of Addison. Tex. Native Air provides air medical services throughout Arizona. Addison, Texas-based Omniflight is a leading provider of air medical services throughout the U.S. The company operates about 100 aircraft nationally from 72 bases in 18 states, with a strong presence across the Southwest, Midwest, and Southeast regions. Its focus is primarily on inter-facility transport and on-site emergency scene response using both rotor and fixed-wing aircraft. For more information, please visit www.omniflight.com.
