Newsletter June 2021

Happy Pride!

Celebrating LGBTQI+ activism and culture through the years

It all started on a June night in 1969 when a New York City Police raid of the Stonewall Inn sparked a series of riots in the LGBTQ community. A year later, thousands took to the streets demanding equal rights for the LGBTQ community. Since that first Pride march, people worldwide celebrate LGBTQ pride and history every June.

“When all Americans are treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all more free.”

-President Barack Obama

A message from our Wings Foundation President

Since its inception in 1989, Wings Foundation has been committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive and collaborative organization accentuated by a spirit of charity.

Wings values volunteers from different backgrounds and is committed to creating an atmosphere of trust, safety, and respect in a community characterized by a diversity of people and ideas.

We are proud to represent and support our brothers and sisters of the LGBTQI+ community during June’s celebration of Pride.

Kazumi Chapa

As seen on social media:

Our Wings volunteer Danny Cabrera remembers this huge event, starting with a flight from DFW to LGA.

“The all-gay crew was a dream come true and a perfect way to kick off festivities.
2021 PRIDE will look a little different around the world, but it will not stop the celebrations from coming back -- in person and virtually!”

Recycle aluminum cans: It helps two causes

Here’s a little history:

In 1989, after working as a flight attendant for a year, Heather Bell was appalled at the volume of trash discarded after each flight. Together with her QWL colleague, Patricia Howitt, they started a pilot program for the San Jose International Airport.

This initiative was met with widespread enthusiasm by flight attendants and the income generated by onboard recycling exceeded all expectations.

Two years later, American Airlines expanded its recycling program to 40 of the 112 US airports it serviced.

By 1999, 4.2 million pounds of aluminum (that's 85 million cans!) had been recycled on American Airlines flights. Onboard recycling was widely embraced by other US carriers, using Heather’s ingenuity as their model.

In 2016, close to $180,000 was raised just by recycling the aluminum cans.

Money raised from our recycling program benefits our Flight Attendant Disaster Relief fund.

Thank you to all of our AA family who take the extra step to save aluminum cans...

Here’s what we want you know about recycling:

Join us as we host our first in-person event of the year

Mark your calendars and prepare for a day of golf!

This will be our first in-person event since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The Wings Foundation Charity Golf Tournament is set for September 30, 2021, and will be hosted at the Bear Creek Golf Club in Dallas, Texas. Preparations are still underway. We are planning for a live auction, silent auction, and raffle. More information will be posted closer to the date. We hope to see you there!

A word from our Kiwi Club

The Kiwi Club has supported the Wings Foundation as its National Endeavor since 1996, and in those 25 years has donated more than $619,000 to Wings! We are honored by the dedication of the Kiwis for including Wings in their charitable ventures, which are many.

This social and charitable organization is for former and current American Airlines and American Eagle/Envoy Flight Attendants, including those flight attendants from airlines acquired by or merged with American Airlines.

To join a chapter near you, click here!

This time it’s for real ...
The Kiwi Club WILL gather in Ft. Worth: “Where the Best Began!”

Planning for the 2022 Convention is well underway! Hosted by the DFW Mid-Cities Chapter, this meeting will mark the Kiwis’ 70^th Anniversary in the place where not only did this incredible organization began, but where most of the membership started their flying careers.

Events commence on Tuesday, April 26, with the graduates of 1969-1970 (delayed from the canceled 2020 meeting) and 1971-1972 being honored. The Opening Luncheon on Wednesday, April 27, will recognize the outstanding accomplishments of Chapters and individuals. That evening, a very special Optional Event is being planned. The Delegates Meeting and Election of Officers will be Thursday, April 28, and the Grand Finale banquet will be that evening and is not to be missed!

The elegant Worthington Renaissance Hotel at Sundance Square will be the site of all activities, with a special group rate of $189/ night for single or double occupancy. The hotel is surrounded by great restaurants and shopping opportunities, so come planning to have a super time! More details will be shared as available. Many thanks to Polly Toll Goodman (AA Class 59-8 and National Meeting Site Coordinator) for pulling these details together!

Those Kiwi Chapters are coming out of their year-plus of virtual meetings, and recent in-person gatherings have been nothing short of amazing! Great friends and fabulous camaraderie ... That's what the Kiwis are all about!

Here are just a couple of photos from recent gatherings:

Washington DC Chapter:

Front Row: Michele H. Smith, Linda Stern, Dayna Reutiman Nickel, Toi Smith Chambers, Robin King, Janet Quest Smith
Middle Row: Linda Cowperthwaite Sterlacci, Joan Sobieck Gray, Barbara French Shapiro, Ann Signore Muench, Naomi Hendrick, Jane Mansfield Lam, Gail McLean Butterfield, Amy Olson, Susan Cook Henry, and Susie Beers Clark (hostess).

Back Row: Pat O'Hara, Cindy Marcum, Ann Stephens Rice, Frannie Baker Gosline (our "cork" lady!)

Carefree, Arizona Chapter:
These Kiwis brought their lunches to the McCorkmick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale!

(Back Row)Carol Piccoli Klaine, Darlene (Nicki) Nitkowski Shephard, Christine Nathern, Diana Gillingham Hines, Pam Sprague Sandberg.
(Seated) Elaine Stefaniak, Barbara Garr Frisch
(Front Row) Lori Liguori, Patti Hammons Vegors, K.Lynn Hoffman Yelvington, Jackie Flora Sorenson.
Photo by Karen Morrison Phillips

Thank You

Thanks to generous donors like you, Wings Foundation, Inc. is able to continue to offer financial assistance to American Airlines Flight Attendants in critical need of financial assistance due to injury, illness, or disability; or who have sustained damage or destruction to their primary residence due to a catastrophic event or natural disaster. Individual financial grants are administered after a completed and approved application for basic housing, insurance, medicine, utilities, and food to American Airlines Flight Attendants (active or furloughed) on the system seniority list.

Click here to view video instructions on how to set up your payroll deduction since the change over to the new AA payroll platform.

Keep Up With Us!

Copyright © 2021, Wings Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved.
www.wingsfoundation.com

Our mailing address is:
P.O. Box 610563
DFW Airport, TX 75261-0563
Or call: (817)571-7083
Email: wings@wingsfoundation.com

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