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Angel Flight Central Honors Volunteers and Supporters at Annual Event

Angel Flight serves people in need by arranging free flights for medical care and for other humanitarian purposes.

KANSAS CITY, MO. – On Saturday, April 21, Angel Flight Central (AFC) held their annual celebration, Heroes of the Heart in Kansas City to honor this past year’s volunteers and supporters.The event included dinner and an awards program.Special guest speakers AFC passengers 13-year-old Gypsy Rose Blancharde, her mother DiDi and Barbara Miller expressed their gratitude to the audience of approximately 100 volunteers and donors for the valuable service provided to them by AFC.

Past victims of Hurricane Katrina, the Blanchardes lost everything and were relocated to Aurora, Missouri.Since then, AFC has arranged free flights for them to Kansas City so Gypsy Rose can receive specialized care at Children’s Mercy Hospital.AFC also arranges flights for Miller of Kansas City, Missouri who is currently participating in a clinical trial at MD Anderson, Houston, Texas for pancreatic cancer.

The event’s special award winners included: Michele Stauffer, Overland Park, Kansas for Pilot of the Year, Jack Gabbert, Carmel, Indiana received the Wing Leadership Award; Dan Mayworm, Libertyville, Illinois and Chris and Amanda Sabia, Kansas City, Missouri received the Excellence in Outreach Activities Award; and Lewis Young, Larned, Kansas was recognized for flying over 400 AFC missions, making him the first Platinum Member of the Golden Eagle Society.Also honored: Yvette James, Parkville, Missouri as Administrative Volunteer of the Year; Dana Buchanan, Kansas City, Missouri as Missions Team Member of the Year; Herman Hood, Marion, Illinois, Rex Ekwall, Omaha, Nebraska and Dale Grahl, Eden, Wisconsin were inducted into the Golden Eagle Society for flying over 100 AFC missions and Michele Stauffer, Overland Park, Kansas added over 100 flights to her Golden Eagle status. Nila Ridings, Overland Park, Kansas and Melanie Tucker, Kansas City, Kansas received Golden Eagle Awards for special contributions.

AFC arranges free flights for people in need to medical facilities or distant destinations due to crisis.Hundreds of AFC volunteer pilots donate their time, talents and aircraft to fly qualified passengers every year.Numerous “ground” volunteers provide administrative support while donors provide funding and in-kind services to help the organization continue this important work.To learn more about Angel Flight call 1-877-621-7177 or visit www.angelflightcentral.org.