Spotlight: Earth Angel Driver Chek Uwakwe of Northern California August 7, 2026 Earth Angel Driver Chek Uwakwe pictured with passengers he has driven between regional airports and their healthcare facilities For Chek Uwakwe, Angel Flight West’s (AFW’s) mission feels personal and close to home. “Growing up, my sister battled sickle cell disease and underwent a bone marrow transplant. I remember my parents driving hundreds of miles multiple times a week to get her to life… LindseyK Read More »
Your Impact in Action: Aden’s Camp Story August 3, 2026 Meet our passenger Aden. Since 2024, AFW along with our partner Alaska Airlines have helped him travel from his home in Alaska to his summer sanctuary at Camp Rainbow Gold. His mother, Crystal, shared the following about his camp experience: “What a difference these flights have made in the life of my child! Aden had beaten cancer twice by the time he was six, and soon Camp Rainbow Gold became the highlight of ev… LindseyK Read More »
AFW Mission Coordinator Logan’s Camp Experience July 28, 2026 Command Pilot Richard Christie and Mission Assistant Jonathan Woo-Wong flying Emma home from a week at Champ Camp with the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation Recently, Angel Flight West Mission Coordinator Logan Burley traveled to Fresno Yosemite International Airport to assist with post-summer camp sendoffs for campers from the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation’s Champ Camp. Logan recounted his camp experie… LindseyK Read More »
Spotlight: Volunteer Pilot Victor Asp of Washington July 28, 2026 Command Pilot Victor Asp flying Perla and her mom Geovanna home from care at Seattle Children’s Hospital Angel Flight West’s volunteer pilots carry out acts of generosity each day by donating their time, talent, and resources to help others. Each time a mission is flown, a patient accesses the healthcare resources they need while being uplifted with hope. Meet the volunteers who make it all possible in this m… LindseyK Read More »
Letter from the Parent of Camp Passenger Susy July 21, 2026 From right to left Command Pilot Steve Kaplan pictured with Susy and her mom on their way to Champ Camp with the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation in 2025 Meet AFW passenger Susy. Since 2021, she’s flown to camp with the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation with the assistance of our incredible volunteer pilots. Below is a letter Susy’s mother Viviana wrote to AFW and our volunteer pilots expressing her gratitude f… LindseyK Read More »
Letter from Angie: Mother of Two AFW Passengers July 16, 2026 Below is a letter from Angie, the mother of AFW passengers Charlize and Jarrett. In it she expresses the family’s gratitude for the flights they’ve received from Angel Flight West and Alaska Airlines — our premier commercial airline partner. We have been flying with Angel Flight West since 2018 for our daughter Charlize’s medical care. Then last year, we found out our son, Jarrett, needed lifes… LindseyK Read More »
From AFW Passenger to Camp Manager: Meet Erika July 6, 2026 Erika pictured with fellow campers and camp staff Erika, Camps and Recreation Manager at the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation (AARBF) and former Angel Flight West (AFW) passenger, shares her gratitude for AFW and the continued impact we have through our partnership with the AARBF below. From Erika: I say thank you to the team and volunteer pilots, but it feels like it’s never enough. I’m speaking today un… LindseyK Read More »
Healthcare Partner Spotlight: Meet Tami, Clinical Director in Alaska June 25, 2026 Command Pilot and Alaska Wing Leader Tom Kleeman with a member of the American Red Cross of Alaska working a disaster relief mission Meet our healthcare partner, Tami Wagner. She has been requesting flights with Angel Flight West since 2024 as the Clinical Director at Kodiak Community Health Center. Each year, AFW works with healthcare professionals like Tami to ensure patients can access the vital care they need.… LindseyK Read More »
AFW Announces Expansion of Volunteer Pilot Network in Alaska June 11, 2026 Command Pilot and Alaska Wing Leader Tom Kleeman pictured at right distributing supplies for a disaster relief mission in partnership with the American Red Cross of Alaska For Immediate Release: Contact for Media and Photos: Jessica Hayes [email protected] Director of Communications Contact for Volunteer Pilots in Alaska: Tom Kleeman afwAlaskaWing@angelflightwest.… LindseyK Read More »
AFW Recognizes Virginia Mason for Patient Navigation Partnership June 3, 2026 AFW volunteer pilot and board member Trevor Moody and Director of Outreach Russell Stearns presenting VMFH President David Tupponce with the Community Partnership Award. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Angel Flight West Recognizes Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) for Patient Navigation Partnership [Seattle, Washington] — On May 15, Angel Flight West volunteer pilot and board member Trevor Mood… LindseyK Read More »
AFW Celebrates Record-Breaking $1 Million Milestone at Endeavor Awards May 26, 2026 For Immediate Release AFW Media Contact: Jessica Hayes Director of Communications [email protected] (323) 332-1610 Angel Flight West Celebrates Record-Breaking $1 Million Milestone at Endeavor Awards [LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA] — [MAY 25, 2026] — Angel Flight West (AFW) is proud to announce that its 12th Annual Endeavor Awards… LindseyK Read More »
New Senior Development Manager: Meet Michelle Duong-Rosas May 26, 2026 We’re excited to introduce Michelle Duong-Rosas as Angel Flight West’s New Senior Development Manager! Michelle is an operations and program management professional with experience across the nonprofit and higher education sectors. Most recently, she served as Operations Manager at the USC Marshall School of Business, supporting the Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and the Bri… LindseyK Read More »
Young Volunteerism at AFW May 26, 2026 The Bray family with daughter Addison second from left Jasper Written by Cheri Cimmarrusti Over the years there have been so many examples of young people doing good things to support Angel Flight West (AFW). When I started at AFW — nearly 29 years ago now — there was a young man volunteering in the office, making phone calls to pilots and helping however he could. His name was Ben Marcus; he was 15 years old and highly dedi… LindseyK Read More »
May Safety Update: “The Hero Trap” May 26, 2026 The Hero Trap: The Five Hazardous Attitudes and Volunteer Pilot Risk Written by Alexi Stavropoulos The FAA teaches five hazardous attitudes that can degrade pilot decision-making. These come straight out of aeronautical decision-making (ADM) training and are highly relevant to safety — especially in emotionally driven missions like philanthropic flying. We will continue, therefore, from previous articl… LindseyK Read More »
Meet New Alaska Wing Leader Tom Kleeman May 14, 2026 Angel Flight West is proud to announce the expansion of our volunteer pilot network in the Alaska Wing. For many years, our work in Alaska has centered on missions supported through the generosity of our partners at Alaska Airlines. This marks an important next step as we begin to expand our presence and deepen our commitment to serving communities across the state. We will be starting with missions to the Anchorage a… LindseyK Read More »
