Copy



  March 2022
  Quarterly Newsletter
Table of Contents                                  

Board of Directors Meeting
The 2022 Wings Foundation Board of Directors meeting was held at the Hotel Vin in Grapevine, Texas, on February 7th and 8th. After last year’s virtual meeting via Zoom, our volunteers were overjoyed  to come together for our first in-person meeting since 2020. We can all agree that while meeting virtually last year was better than no meeting at all, the level of collaboration, discussion and brainstorming of new ideas was just not the same. This year’s meeting was a joyous reunion where the renewed sense of passion for the organization and its mission was felt by all in attendance.

Volunteers from across all bases came together to discuss casework, fundraising, recycling and vote for the new executive committee members and term directors. Reports were shared by national officers, advisory directors, and individual base leaders. We are proud to report that 114 flight attendants received assistance through Wings Foundation in 2021. 
Top Left: Kazumi Chapa passes the microphone to newly elected Wings President Anne Elfant.
Middle/Bottom Right: Volunteers enjoy reunions with coworkers from across the system.
Bottom Left: Hotel Vin in Grapevine, TX. 
The Wings Foundation volunteer reception sponsored by Barclays was held in the Third Rail lounge. Volunteers and family members were joined by representatives from Flight Service, APFA, American Airlines Credit Union, Coca Cola and Barclays. Managing Base Director of Operations, Frank Morales pledged additional support from American Airlines management.  “I can’t say enough about the great work this organization does to assist flight attendants. We in Flight Service wholeheartedly support the Wings Foundation mission and those who work tirelessly to help their peers in need.”
All Photos: Flight attendants, family members and guests come together to enjoy the evening reception honoring the passion and dedication of Wings Foundation volunteers. 
Three volunteers took to the stage to share personal stories of receiving support from Wings Foundation Health Relief and Disaster Relief programs (FAHR, FADR). When a main water line broke in Stephanie Oxford’s home in 2021 she found herself in a situation she never expected. Encouraged by her fellow volunteers to apply for FADR assistance, Stephanie received funds to assist with necessary home repairs.
 
“I am so passionate about helping my peers that I didn’t think of the availability of assistance when I needed it myself. I am so thankful to the Wings Disaster Relief fund for coming to my rescue, I am fortunate to volunteer for an organization that supports flight attendants in times of need.”   
- Stephanie Oxford
Left to right: Volunteer Stephanie Oxford shares her story, Coca Cola reps Anastaja Ledet and Laura Bailey with their new beverage cart, Derick Caraway from corporate sponsor Barclays.  
Representatives from Barclays present Wings Foundation volunteers with a $100,000 donation
Congratulations to the 2022 Wings Foundation Executive Committee and Term Directors

OFFICER DIRECTORS

President
 Anne Elfant

Vice President
Juliana Ruggiero

Secretary
Mary Jo Brown

AD HOC
Geoff Stafford

ADVISOR DIRECTORS

Flight Attendant Disaster Relief (FADR)
Krichelle Zuniga
 

Recycling
 Jill Fenley
 

Communications and Development
Andrea Sisson
 

Casework Intake
 Lo Cruzan
 

Sponsorship and Endeavors
Stephanie Oxford
 

Former President
Kazumi Chapa

TERM DIRECTORS

CHARLOTTE
 Paul Anstine Jr.
 

CHICAGO
 Lauri Zamin
 

DALLAS/FORT WORTH
 Cliff Fleming and Roasheen Huffman
 

LOS ANGELES
Aaron Azevedo
 

MIAMI
Kim Putman and Alex Bermea
 

NEW YORK CITY
Geoff Stafford
 

PHILADELPHIA
Sarah Bly and Mar’Kese Wise
 

SAN FRANCISCO
China Hernandez
 

WASHINGTON DC
 Lauran Murphy

Founders Award- Kazumi Chapa
The Wings Foundation Founders Award was created in 2019 to honor the three founding members of our organization, Ada Asher, Marie Lockbaum and Patti Baskin-Palmer. This award is presented annually to a volunteer who demonstrates exceptional dedication to the foundation through contributions at the local and national levels, working tirelessly for the betterment of the organization, and upholding the high standards set in place by the three founders. For 2021, there were 6 deserving nominees, and Kazumi Chapa was selected for this coveted award. 
 
2021 Founders Award Nominees
Roberto Jimenez-Curiel
Marggie Royston
Kazumi Chapa
Susan Henry
Dominic Anaya
Danny Cabrera
Left/Middle:  Anne Elfant and Patti Baskin-Palmer present Kazumi with the 2021 Founders Award
Right: Kazumi with Wings founding member Marie Lockbaum at the 2019 BOD meeting
Newly elected Wings President Anne Elfant presented the award to Kazumi along with one of Wings co-founders, Patti Baskin-Palmer. Below is an excerpt from Anne’s address at the reception:
 
"For the past 6 years, Kazumi has done an amazing job as President. During her tenure as President she not only seamlessly performed the duties as required of her position but also assisted with case work and a variety of projects and initiatives. At the national level, Kazumi has been instrumental in keeping our organization up with the times. She worked tirelessly on the rebranding of our logo and updating the website. Kazumi has also cultivated a relationship with Barclays Bank who became our corporate sponsor in part because of her hard work. There isn’t one aspect of Wings Foundation that Kazumi hasn’t personally involved herself in.

Our organization was born out of the desire to assist flight attendants in need. Everything Kazumi has implemented during the last six years exemplifies what the founders had in mind when they created Wings Foundation, and we are honored to present this award to her.”

Chicago Lip Sync Returns
Mark your calendars! The return of Chicago Lip Sync is May 18th, 2022 
 
Join hosts Barbie Doll and Liquor Mini at the iconic Baton Show Lounge for an evening of fun and fabulous performances.  Happy hour begins at 6pm followed by the show at 7:30pm.  An array of aviation items  will be featured in the live auction including beverage carts, airplane seats and a vacation getaway package to the Sand Castle Resort in beautiful St. Croix.
Tickets on Sale Now!

National Kiwi Convention 2022
70th Anniversary Celebration
After two years apart due to pandemic restrictions, the Kiwis will come together to celebrate 70 years of The Kiwi Club "Where the Best Began" with a return to the original meeting location in Forth Worth, Texas on April 26-28.

2022 Kiwi Club Convention Webpage

Below is a special message from The Kiwi Club National Vice President, K.Lynn Hoffmann Yelvington:

Celebrating 70 years of Kiwi friendship, fun, and philanthropy!

"The original American Airlines stewardesses embarked upon a short term job, requiring them to leave the stewardess corps when marrying or upon reaching 32 years of age.  Many of these women married pilots, and continued living near a local base where they gathered with one another, reminiscing about the unique job they loved and missed.  Being service oriented, these former stewardesses also focused on volunteering within their local communities.

As former American Airlines’ stewardess groups grew across the US, so did enthusiastic discussions about creating an official organization.  By 1952, The Kiwi Club chartered, and this first of its kind organization remains deeply committed to friendship, fun, and philanthropy.  Next month, members plan to return to Fort Worth, where the first Kiwi convention took place, for its 70th anniversary and convention.

Although The Kiwi Club originally included grounded stewardesses, when the company started hiring men, married women, and those with children, in 1976, The Kiwi Club extended membership to current AAL flight attendants."

 

All current American Airlines flight attendants

are eligible to join The Kiwi Club! 


Learn more at The Kiwi Club Webpage
Left: Kiwi Club Chapter Members.   Right: The First National Board in 1952
The Kiwi Club is a social and charitable organization for former and current American Airlines and American Eagle Flight Attendants, including those Flight Attendants from airlines acquired by or merged with American Airlines.

The Kiwi Club has supported Wings Foundation as its National Endeavor since 1996, donating more than $660,425.00 as of January 2022. We are honored by the dedication of the Kiwis for including Wings in their charitable ventures, which are many.  

Onboard Recycling Update
30 Days or 500 Years?

Let's keep making the right choice and recycle on every flight! 

Onboard recycling benefits
 Flight Attendant Disaster Relief 

Additional donations to FADR can be made through Network for Good.

Donate Now

Thank you for your support! 

Amazon Smile
Wings Foundation recently received a $1,421.54 donation from  AmazonSmile! 

Have you designated Wings Foundation as your AmazonSmile charity? 

Visit smile.amazon.com to learn more and sign up today!
 



Wings Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is formed and managed by American Airlines flight attendants. Wings Foundation provides financial grants to American Airlines flight attendants who are in critical need of financial assistance due to illness, injury, or disability; or who sustain damage to their primary residence by a natural disaster or catastrophic event. 
 
Learn more at WingsFoundation.com
Facebook
Link
Twitter
YouTube
Copyright © 2022 Wings Foundation Inc, All rights reserved.

Phone: (817) 571-7083
Email: wings@wingsfoundation.com

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.
Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp