In this issue
- Call to Action
- Haiti News
- Events
- Featured Trip
- Happenings
- Thank you
- Bravos!
- Social Media
- Children's Escort News
- News
- Volunteer Programs
- Missions
- eUpdate Archive
Social Media
You don't have to
look far to find us!
Children's
Escort
Volunteers
153 Children escorted on life changing journeys in 2010!
We want to thank all our 2010 escorts who
volunteered on their days off to help a child in need. Without them, there would be no Children’s Escort Program.
Belize
Kathy Savage and Frances Little (both DFWAA flight attendants) escort 4 orthopedic patients through winter weather. The children experience their first snow before reaching their destinations.
Read about their journey...
Margaret Whitehead,
Director of the program
shares many more Escort Stories!
News
Keep up with
Airline Ambassadors!
Visit our News Section and Photo Galleries!
To review Haiti news and
keep up with the latest
developments, visit our
Haiti Updates pages.
Volunteer Programs
It's a lifestyle...
UNICEF, American Airlines
(AA) and Airline
Ambassadors Intl (AAI)
teamed up for the Change
for Good Program and
collected a record-breaking $1.4 Million in 2010.
Read more and find out how you can help when you fly American Airlines on
international flights!
For more Volunteer
Opportunities,
visit our listings.
Now, more than ever...
Donate miles to support
Airline Ambassadors
Projects. Visit
United Charity Miles today!
For more ways that you can help, please visit
Volunteer Programs.
Missions
Whether it's Haiti, Chile,
Nicaragua, Ethiopia, or
South Africa...
there's a trip for you!
Find your niche
and feed your passion...
Brawn (build schools, plant gardens, deliver critical aid), Brains (teach, educate, develop learning programs), or Big Heart (orphanage visits)!
Watch our
2011 Calendar
for postings that fit your
schedule, skills, and
passion!
Did you miss any eUpdates?
Visit the Airline
Ambassadors'
eUpdate Archive
for past issues.
Pass it on
If you know someone who may be interested in
receiving this
newsletter,
please send the eUpdate
to a friend.
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Call to Action
Every year, as many as
300,000 U.S. children are
forced into sexual slavery
You can help put an end to it.
Human Trafficking.
I’m Not Buying It!
Find out more about what
Airline Ambassadors is doing.
You may help by donating to our
Fight Human Trafficking Initiative and
signing our petition.
Haiti News
 This month is the anniversary of one of the most devastating disasters of this century. 80% of houses in the earthquake zone near Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, collapsed and there were 240,000 dead and over one million homeless. Thousands of newly orphaned children did not have enough food, water, or shelter.
Inspired by a donation from the Homeless of Miami, Airline Ambassadors chartered our first aircraft on January 17, 2010. The Belinda Stronach Foundation sent in 8 more airplanes, and we sent supplies from LDS Charities, Rotary, and our members on planes from United and American as well. We transported 500 doctors and nurses and 3 million pounds of desperately needed medical supplies, food, and water. Read more in our 2011 Haiti News Update...
Many thanks to Carl Innis of Procuserve who donated houses for the safe house projects and UNICEF for partnering with AAI for Human Trafficking Awareness projects at airports in both Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Events
United Nations Press Conference
2011 theme, "Peace and Reconciliation"
Tuesday, 15th of February 2011
Launch of Peace and Cooperation School Award 2011
Join the movement and encourage schools and children to participate in the Airline Ambassadors' Annual Youth School Competition!
Find out more...
Featured Trip
 South Africa
Join an African Safari with a purpose!
Game drives, featuring the "Big Five" will amaze you, a cruise on the St. Lucia River will astound you, weavers and craftspeople will inspire you, African village music will delight you, and hand-delivering aid to orphaned children will change your life forever. Don't miss South Africa! Review the itinerary and visit AAI's 2011 Travel Calendar for more information.
Happenings
Saving Lovely - A life saved on the anniversary of the earthquake
(NY Daily News article)
Today, Lovely Ajuste celebrates her birthday and the possibility of a future. Three of AAI children’s escorts, Masako Doi, Rhondine Simmons and Amy Watson joined the Sweet 16 birthday party at Ronald McDonald House in Great Neck, New York. They are celebrating her successful heart surgery -- exactly 1 year after the devastating earthquake. Read more here...
Dr. Desruisseaux first met Lovely Ajuste at the CDTI Hospital of Sacre-Coeur 2 weeks after the earthquake, and although medical treatment helped clear a parasitic infection recent examination determined that Lovely would lose her life without proper surgery. Repair of her heart could not be performed in Haiti and surgery at the New York, Montefiore's Pediatric Heart Center was the only opportunity to save her life.
Rotary’s Gift of Life program coordinated for the hospital to accept Lovely but she only had a week to manifest many miracles; the family barely had clothes to put on their backs and shoes to travel, but one by one, miracles unfolded: a visa approved by the Embassy, a suitcase, clothing and shoes, transportation and AN AIRLINE TICKET.
Because of quick action by Pattye Paynes of AA’s Miles for Kids in Need, Lovely’s life was saved on January 12, the anniversary of the earthquake! Pattye is pictured here with another child on his way to heart surgery last summer.
 Thanks too to Maryse Noel, of AA Special Services in Port-au-Prince, (who lost her own house during the earthquake), but gave up a day off to facilitate Lovely’s escort as well. Maryse is pictured here in front of her demolished house and car with AAI's Joseph Mutti.
Wheelchair delivered to Costa Rica
AAI Ambassador, Mary Furlong-Ferguson, went above and beyond the call of duty when Rotary Club of Grand Prairie, Texas reached out and she answered the call. Mike Hasty, of the Rotary Club, stated that he needed a wheelchair delivered from New York to Texas and was desperate to find some way for it to be delivered to Costa Rica. The organization looked into making it possible and no one could find a way to get it delivered, so he reached out to AAI.
AAI contacted Mary and she stepped in and ensured that it was delivered. In an email, Mary stated, "I think as a team, we can make this happen." And they did!
 Mike wrote, "Mary a special thank you to you and your Airline Ambassadors and all at American Airlines. What a wonderful, smooth logistical blessing." William Barrantes, the contact in San Jose, responded, "Wheelchair is now in Rotary hands going to Puntarenas...thanks all." Thank you, Mary, for making it all happen! We are truly grateful for such great help from you and everyone who was involved.
Bikes for Cambodian Children
 Airline Ambassadors provided money for Lisa McCoy's school in Cambodia this summer and now you can help supplement this effort by helping to provide a rural child with a sturdy bicycle equipped with a basket, carrier, generator powered lamp, lock and key. We are only 8 bicycles short of our goal of 70 to complete our Phase Three target. Help us reach out in support of the Rotary Wheels for Learning. $50 Donors are provided with a photo of their sponsored child with their bicycle.
Mail donations to:
Airline Ambassadors Intl.
1020 16th St. NW # 603
Washington, DC 20036
In memo section, please write:
Rotary Wheels for Learning - Cambodia
Rotary Mission In Haiti -- The island of La Gonaive
 Rotary Districts from New York and Illinois embark on another mission to Haiti's Island of LaGonaive. Rotary District Governor and AAI member, George Solomon, will lead a group to follow up on his efforts to provide water to a village in the mountain region, called Nan Sema. In 2006, his group brought a well to service 5,000 people in a population of 80,000. In 2009, the Rotary team equipped a medical clinic as well as replaced the surgical suite at the Island's only hospital. After the earthquake the population of the island has swelled to 130,000 people and the well now provides water to 15% of the Island's population. Because of skyrocketing fuel prices, the generator (which powered the well and the clinic) could only be used two hours per day. George spearheaded a grant from Rotary Foundation Grant to install solar panels, power and a new well pump to be powered by the solar panels in addition to a satellite dish for internet access for the doctor. If you'd like to join this mission email lynette@airlineamb.org.
Thank You:
 Thank you to Becky Gahman, for your dedication and support to the children of Mexico. For years, Becky worked tirelessly to ensure the Mexico Orphanage, Casa de Paz, had money to pay their food and electric bills. Becky led our Mexico trips for two and half years and coordinated several incredible missions for us. We will miss these fun and rewarding trips, filled with memories to last a lifetime and great activities for our members. Becky has just retired and will be working with us on other endeavors. For those of you who have generously donated throughout the years to the Casa de Paz orphanage, we need to inform you that we no longer will be facilitating these donations through AAI. If you would like to continue to fund this orphanage you may do as Becky outlines in her thank you letter here.
Thank you again Becky for your dedicated work at AAI. You truly do bring compassion into action!
Bravo to:
Airline Ambassadors' Board Member, Daniel Sheth, reports about Jackie's House,
Dominican Republic
View the Jackie's House photo album and Mandell School video.
To learn more about Jackie's House, please visit the Donate to a Project section on the AAI web site.
Many thanks to Daniel Sheth, Airline Ambassadors Board member, treasurer and tireless, generous supporter.
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