| 
 Juice Plus ("JP") is a partner with Challenge Air. When you purchase Juice Plus through the Challenge Air JP link, JP gives $$$ back to Challenge Air. Learn more by clicking HERE or at the Juice Plus logo above. Plus, JP has a program to benefit your kids ages 6-16 through the the JP Children's Foundation. The JP Foundation pays for your kids to take JP for free for three years as long as the parents are also using the product. To participate in this program for you & the kids, call our local JP Rep., Ken Langley, @214/543-
4850. ( P.S. I am also a JP customer. -Byron Laszlo; Exec. Dir. Challenge Air) |
VISIT OUR PARTNER:
|
I.C.E. Bands Northwest
(In Case of Emergency)
Personalized 100% Silicone Wristbands with the persons name and contact phone number of a family
member or friend in the case of any type of accident or emergency - great for running, walking, biking, hiking, swimming etc.
Also can include medical information, as needed.
The I.C.E. Bands are for all ages and could be helpful to many people in various situations -- $5.00 / ea -- available in 11 colors -- 2 sizes ( 7" or 8" )
Click Here to Order Now. |
Upcoming Events:
| |
"Fly Days" are always offered at NO COST to all partic-ipating children & families. This is only possible through philanthropic gifts made by corporations, foundations and you. Please consider making a donation today to support your local "Fly Day" event. Please indicate the event you wish to support. We thank you in advance for your support, and the kids always win in the end. .
| |
June 19, 2010
Boston, MA
(re-scheduled for
June 2011)
August 7, 2010
Aurora, Oregon
September 11, 2010
Kansas City, Missouri
October 9, 2010
Dallas, Texas
November 13, 2010
Houston, Texas
SOUTH FLORIDA COMMUNITY: We are currently raising funds to support the "Fly Day" in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Please consider making a donation today so the children of South Florida may take to the skies in January 2011. Our minimum goal is $15,000.00 and some commitments have already been secured. Please email Byron or call (214) 929-2323 for sponsorship opportunities. |
E-Newsletter Ad Space:
| Advertise your business in Challenge Air's e-newsletter. The flyer is sent to over 10,000 friends and supporters of Challenge Air.
Contact Byron Laszlo for rates.
|
|
COMING SOON!
In the upcoming days, Challenge Air will be unveiling its new website! There will be a whole new look with more features including membership options & benefits, interactive forums, video, and much more. In order to register for events you will have to register on our website.
Please note: There may be some temporary down time. So if the site is down or something is not working on the site, please know that we are on it and it will be working very soon. |
|
|
|
|
|
Challenge Air has a New Home, Courtesy of Jet Aviation
|
In February 2010, Challenge Air moved into its new office space graciously donated by Jet Aviation, located at Love Field Airport.
Challenge Air's ED
Byron Laszlo and
Jet Aviation/Dallas' GM Chris Todtenhausen.
 | "We are so excited to be a partner with Jet Aviation/Dallas and are thankful for their hospitality and generosity," Byron Laszlo, Executive Director of Challenge Air.
Beginning November 2009, Volunteer Ken Langley spear-headed the project to renovate and upgrade the 1,500 square foot space which included: donated tiles from Home Depot; donated carpet by Sam Prager of Carpet Services Inc.; three full computer desktop systems donated by Challenge Air Board Member George Campbell and CCRD Partners of Dallas; and a donated logo decal from City Color imprinted on the glass of the office wall as well as a beautiful photo installation of Challegne Air event images that spans the length of one of the walls in the office. Employees from the Home Depot store/district came on-board to help install the ceiling, light lenses and install the carpet. Volunteers came in over many weekends to help paint and clean up the space.
 OFFICE WISH LIST: 1. These are items we need to work more efficiently: three new laptop computers. 2.These are items we want to finish out the office: a black sofa and matching end table, coffee table and sofa table Jet Aviation is wholly owned by General Dynamics and is established internationally including nine North America locations. Jet Aviation has been a strong supporter of Challenge Air's mission and already has helped to raise funds through the NBAA VIP party Raul Ruiz & Sounthone that was held in their hangar in November 2009. Panyanouvong from City Color in front of the wall installation
 Many thanks to the Jet Aviation/Dallas team & to Chris Todtenhausen for your generosity and support. P.S. Be on the watch for our "new office" party coming soon....
 Our new address is: 7363 Cedar Springs Road Dallas, Texas 75235 Please click on the logos below and throughout this newsletter to be directed to our sponsor's websites for more information about their products, services and businesses. |
Challenge Air's Celebrates 16 Years of Freedom!
|
 On Saturday, February 27, 2010 over 300 attendees gathered to celebrate Challenge Air for Kids & Friends 16th Year Anniversary, "Celebrating the Freedom of Flight."
Highlights of the evening included a silent auction, an awards presentation and two, on-stage testimonials from families who have participated in a fly day. The evening ended with a wonderful video presentation of the 2009 events.
Over $17,000 was raised through the silent auction and ticket sales. Funds received from the gala celebration will help to ensure that the Challenge Air program continues to stay a vital part of our communities, nationwide.
Thank you to the committee members who helped to organize the gala as well as all the sponsors who helped make the night so special!
Click Here to View Photos from the night.
Volunteers have already begun to meet for Challenge Air's 17 Year Anniversary Gala, "The Power of Flight," which will be held Saturday, March 5, 2011 at the Frontiers of Flight Museum. We are currently looking for exciting items to be donated for our silent and live  auction in March. Please send your donated items to our office at 7363 Cedar Springs Rd. Dallas, TX 75235. Click here to download the Auction Gift Form. Our next gala planning meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 26 at 6:30PM at our Love Field office. Anyone is welcome to join the planning committee. Be part of this awesome group of volunteers and friends, and help us plan for one of our largest fundraisers of the year! Your help WILL make a difference. |
Fly Day Update:
| Challenge Air has been busy traveling across the country for its 2010 "Fly Day"Programs.
2010 "Fly Days" held to Date include:
Deer Valley, Arizona - April 24thCutter Aviation opened their  hangar doors to Challenge Air twice this year: once in McKinney, TX (April 10)and again in Phoenix, AZ (April 24). Both events were a super success. McKinney: 109 kids flown, 16 pilots, 125 volunteers and 8 local agencies participated. Other supporters for this event include the McKinney Noon Lions Club, the Kiwanis Club of McKinney, Connections Kids and many others, of course.
Phoenix: In all, 118 participants joined us at the Deer Valley Airport. This was our second consecutive year in Phoenix with Cutter Aviation. Many thanks to the volunteer planning committee. Vice President/CFO at Cutter Aviation, Steve Prieser, was on-hand for the day with his wife flying the kids!! We want to extend a special THANK YOU to Committee Volunteers Carole Glenn (ADOT) and Steve Snyder (Southwest Airlines Captain) and his super-awesome wife, Michelle. The goin' was getting tough and this event need major assistance from the local community. These three superstars worked tirelessly day & night to ensure every component came together for the kids. And nothing stopped them. The week before the event, our friends from Landmark Aviation in  Houston responded to our plea for help with lunch & water and with-out a second thought Houston Landmark contacted Phoenix Landmark and it was done. Additional  sponsors included Avnet, and Frys Foods.
Los Angeles, California - May 8th - A total of 37 volunteer pilots flew 124  special needs kids, 125 adults and 65 siblings/friends for a total of 314 total flown! Thank you to our hosts, Jason Morgan and American Airports as well as our sponsors: Ralphs Food 4 Less, Sempra Energy,  Mission Valley Bank, Supervisor Yaroslavsky and the La Canada Kiwanis Club!
Pictures from the event have been uploaded to our website courtesy of photographer Rick Meyer and Mark Cheer.
Denver, Colorado - May 22nd - The event was amazing. This was our first "Fly Day" in Denver in over 11 years!! The title sponsor for this event was Jeppesen and the facility host was X Jet World. The Centennial Airport, Developmental Pathways and CABA, among many others, were all very instrumental in the success of this event. Due to extremely high winds, none of the small planes were able to fly. However, one of our volunteer pilots, Mr. Jeff Puckett, left the event briefly to bring his super-cool Bell 206 LongRanger helicopter and allowed nearly every participant and one guest to fly around the airfield!! Cindy Waggoner, our lovely Program Director, met with the volunteers and pilots on June 19 for a make-up day. In all, 45 kids took off from the X jet World hangar and flew about the snow capped mountains just outside Denver. We wish to express our sincere gratitude to Jeppesen, X Jet World, the Centennial Airport, Jeff Puckett, the Lions Club, all the volunteer pilots, ground crew volunteers and agencies for their help with this event. We look forward to seeing you next year! Upcoming Programs: 
Portland, Oregon - August 7th - Sponsored by:
Air BP with additional support from Lightspeed Aviation.
Boston, Massachusetts - Sponsored by PHCC/MA  (Postponed until June 2011.)
Dallas, Texas - October 9 - Partially sponsored by:
Ed Haggar Family Foundation & The Meyer Levy Charitable Foundation
If you are interested in sponsoring a "Fly Day" in your area please click here to download our "Fly Day" Sponsor Form or donate now...
........
Testimonies from families who've attended the
Challenge Air program this year:
"Thank you so much for the opportunity to participate in the Los Angeles Fly Day. The entire Challenge Air team was so kind and friendly, and really made us feel very welcome. We are especially grateful to our pilot Seoul who took us on an exciting journey into the sky. We soared over the city and into the nearby mountains, experienced the thrill of acrobatic turns and dives, and watched in amazement as he instructed our daughter Amy to fly the plane. Thank you for making Amy's first flight such a memorable experience. - Dave Yoon
P.S. To help share with the cost, we are making a $200 donation using the PayPal link on the Challenge Air web site." |
Challenge Air for Kids and Friends is a national children's non-profit organization whose missionis to offer motivational, inspirational and life-changing experiences to children and youth
with special needs through aviation.
Parents have told us time and again that we are building self-esteem and confidence in their children.
Donations can be mailed to:
Challenge Air 7363 Cedar Springs Road Dallas, Texas 75235
| |
|
|
|
