Story ID: 564WingsCharity
Children's Air Ambulance Charity Formed
By: Mark Huber
Caption: Wings of Humanity plans to provide free air ambulance flights for children.
Word Count: 245
Children's air ambulance charity Wings of Humanity (Both C13426) announced its formation this week at NBAA-BACE 2019. The Scottsdale, Arizona-based 501(c)3 tax-exempt charitable organization said its mission would be to provide free/low-cost air medical transportation to children needing specialized medical care unavailable in their home markets, as well as transportation for their family members. “There are many children’s hospitals ready to accept children in need, but transportation is often not available at no cost to the child and his family,” said Michael Long, the charity’s founder and director of aviation.

Wings plans to use funds to acquire specially equipped Learjet and Cessna Citation air ambulances. Flights will be operated by Peak Medevac International of Denver, a Part 135 operator. In addition to patient transport, the charity also said it would use aircraft for the transport of transplant organs and specialized surgical teams. The charity is initially affiliated with Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Arizona Mayo Clinic Children’s Center, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, St. Joseph Barrows Neurological Institute, and Sanford Children’s Hospitals. 

The charity said it will accept contributions from individuals, corporations, and charitable trusts as well as the donation of older and/or out-of-service aircraft for resale or part out. The charity is receiving guidance from the Arizona law firm of Burch and Cracchiolo and accounting services from Semple, Marchal, and Cooper. It pledged to devote at least 80 percent of its budget to medical flights.