Building Confidence in Children and Youth with Special Needs |
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Greetings!
Spring is such a beautiful time of year filled with April Fools jokes, baby bunnies, chocolate eggs, spring break (my birthday) and tulips. Did you know it was also World Autism Awareness month?
World Autism Awareness month is all about promoting a society where people with autism can reach their full potential. Challenge Air is proud to provide opportunities in 12 cities this year for individuals with special needs, including autism, the opportunity to build confidence and self-esteem through the gift of flight.
Please join me at one of our Fly Days in 2023 and help make a world of difference for all children with special needs. If you are not able to participate in a fly day, I would encourage acceptance, understanding and inclusion with daily acts of kindness.
With much appreciation,
April Culver
CEO/ Executive Director
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Mesquite Fly Day Success! |
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Taking to the skies for a cause - Challenge Air's fly day event on Saturday, April 1st was an unforgettable experience.
We were honored to join forces with 52 Co-pilots and their families, 70 dedicated volunteers, and 13 skilled pilots to give kids with special needs the chance to soar above the clouds and boost their confidence and self-esteem.
We couldn't have done it without the support of our amazing sponsors - thank you for making this all possible! A special thank you to Mesquite Golden Chick for providing 250 boxed lunches!!!
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2023 Fly Day Schedule
Below are the upcoming dates for Challenge Air Fly Days!
April 22nd- Ft. Worth, TX
April 29th- Chattanooga, TN
May 20th- Sonoma County, CA
June 24th – Spokane, WA (NEW DATE)
Sept 9th- Kansas City, MO
Hope to see you there!
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Gala & Casino Night | Celebrating 30 Years! |
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We are excited to invite you to our upcoming Gala and Casino Night fundraising event. This is a night of fun and entertainment for a good cause. Our event is scheduled for Saturday, September 16th at the Frontiers of Flight Museum.
Our annual event allows us to bring together our donors, supporters, and friends. This enchanting evening features gourmet dining, cocktails, casino games, and a testimonial from kids and families we help.
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Thank you in advance for your commitment to support the gift of flight to kids and youth with special needs. We look forward to seeing you at our 2023 Gala & Casino Night! |
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Silent Auction Donations Needed! |
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Challenge Air for Kids and Friends is celebrating 30 years of making a positive impact in our community, and we're seeking your support to help make our gala event a success.
We're looking for donations of unique and valuable items for our silent auction. Whether you have a one-of-a-kind piece of art, a gift certificate to a local business, or a vacation package to offer, your donation will help us raise funds to continue our mission of serving those in need. Your generosity will not only be recognized at our event, but it will also make a lasting impact in the lives of those we serve.
Contact April Culver for more information aculver@challengeair.org or 214-351-3353.
Thank you for your support!
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Bailey Cole Bids Farewell to Challenge Air to Pursue Nursing Dreams |
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After dedicating four years to Challenge Air, Assistant Executive Director, Bailey Cole, has announced her departure to pursue a degree in nursing.
Bailey has been an integral part of the organization, helping to shape and execute its mission of making aviation accessible to children with disabilities. Her dedication and hard work have been instrumental in expanding the organization's reach and impact.
Although Bailey's departure will be felt deeply by Challenge Air, her decision to pursue a degree in nursing reflects her commitment to helping others in a different capacity. Her passion for service and her desire to make a difference in people's lives is unwavering. The organization wishes her all the best as she embarks on this new chapter of her life, knowing that she will continue to make a positive impact on the world in her own unique way.
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Charity Clay Shoot Success! |
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We had an amazing time at the charity clay shoot event benefiting Challenge Air for Kids and Friends Ft Worth Texas Fly Day!
Thanks to our generous sponsors and participants, we were able to raise funds and awareness for children with special needs.
If you missed out on this year's event, don't worry - there are plenty of ways to get involved.
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"It's like an independence day for kids like us. Thank you for your time and love."
- Fight Like Quinn (Co-Pilot
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"Our VIP Co-Pilots are not typically front of the line, in terms of society … I’ve seen this first hand with special needs folks (kiddos and adults) close to me.
The Red Carpet treatment [Challenge Air] provides VIP Co-Pilots is World Class!!
Proof of such is I haven’t seen
anything else like this … in person or on social media. The biggest proof in the pudding… the amount of VIP’s that return year after year in all of the USA cities we fly! The newbies that walk in nervous and leave fly days so excited! When the pandemic first started, and we pivoted to virtual flying to ensure we could still deliver to our VIP’s...The amount of new participants in cities we’ve never flown. The requests to launch fly days in cities we’ve never been. The overwhelming amount of positive comments / pictures / vidoes on social media that parents / family post from live and virtual fly events.
Using the inspiration tool of flight has proven to increase confidence and self esteem to thousands of VIP Co-pilots AND their family / friends." - Carl Corns (Volunteer Pilot and Board Member)
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Challenge Air is Delighted to be a WAWOS Wishes Recipient |
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WAWOS, a 501(c) (3), is committed to supporting and celebrating children with Cerebral Palsy and related neuromuscular delays.
"WAWOS believes that exploring the world drives curiosity and confidence in every child. Encouraging kids of all abilities to try new adventures can unlock new interests, build friendships and foster inclusion. That's what led us to launch the WAWOS Wishes program.
Over the past 4 years, we've granted $200,000 to nonprofits across the US that provide adaptive and inclusive sport & activities.
One of the criteria of being a WAWOS Wishes directed gift recipient of $2500 is that each qualifying nonprofit in the US must provide activities or adventures for kids with physical disabilities and mobility impairments. That provides WAWOS with an opportunity to let other families know about incredible adaptive programs across the country.
We love amplifying the amazing work they're doing, and we often hear that we've helped another family learn about a resource they weren't aware existed." - WAWOS
We are truly humbled and grateful for WAWOS's commitment to supporting our organization's mission. This generous donation will go a long way in supporting our mission to provide transformational aviation experiences for children and youth with special needs.
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Thank you so much for supporting the Challenge Air mission.
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Let's Be Social
#Givekidswings
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