Story ID: 
Aviation Companies Bring the Holiday Spirit
By: Curt Epstein
Caption: Toy and gift drives are aimed at providing seasonal cheer for the disadvantaged
Word Count: 306
With the holiday season underway, aviation companies are looking to make a difference in their community, sponsoring drives to help the less fortunate.
American Aero FTW, an FBO at Dallas-area Fort Worth Meacham International Airport (KFTW), is holding its 10th annual toy drive in partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program. Through December 15, customers and airport guests are invited to stop by the FBO to drop off a new, unwrapped toy or make a financial contribution benefiting the program. Since it opened its doors a decade ago, the service provider has distributed more than 4,000 bikes and other gifts and collected more than $30,000 in donations.
“It is always exciting to see the toys and gifts pile up each year and know that we are helping to put smiles on the faces of children on Christmas morning,” said Angela Thurmond, the FBO’s general manager. “Our aviation community is extraordinarily generous, and their gifts will mean area families don’t have to make a choice between buying toys for their children or putting food on the table this holiday season.”
Florida-based FBO chain Sheltair has several locations conducting gift drives, including its corporate office at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, as well as its FBOs at Tampa International Airport (KTPA) and Albert Whitted Airport (KSPG) in St. Petersburg.
On December 12, the chain’s facility at Melbourne Orlando International Airport (KMLB) will host the annual Jingle Jet event in partnership with sponsoring companies and media. Organized by a local charitable foundation, 10 deserving area families are selected each year and, after a party in the terminal, are loaded aboard a short donated flight to “the North Pole” (a specially decorated Sheltair hangar) where they are greeted by Santa and Mrs. Claus and are given curated presents.