(VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.) C. Suzanne Mencer, Director of the Office for Domestic Preparedness within the Department of Homeland Security, today announced an official affiliate partnership between Mercy Medical Airlift (MMA) and Citizen Corps, the Department's nationwide grass roots movement to actively involve everyone in America in making our communities and our nation safer, stronger, and better prepared for emergencies.

Mercy Medical Airlift is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing charitable, long-distance air transportation ensuring patient access to distant specialized medical evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment. MMA is totally supported through charitable giving and the services of volunteer pilots and office assistants. Volunteer pilots link with other pilots nationally - together flying multiple thousands of needy patients each year.

In addition, MMA developed the Homeland Security Emergency Air Transportation System (HSEATS) with funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service. In times of emergency, volunteer pilots working within the HSEATS program stand ready to transport small priority cargo and key emergency management personnel to needed destinations.

Ms. Mencer expressed support for the affiliation saying, "the programs managed by Mercy Medical Airlift and the volunteer pilots dedicated to this mission are an excellent example of how citizens can contribute to homeland security. And while pilots have a very special skill to offer, together we can spread the message that everyone can do something."

Citizen Corps provides local opportunities for everyone to participate in hometown security and community/family preparedness through public education and outreach, training opportunities, and volunteer programs to support local first responders. Through a nationwide network of over 1,100 local Citizen Corps Councils, Citizen Corps brings together the homeland security expertise of emergency responders with the energy and spirit of volunteer programs, the private sector and other community stakeholders to engage the whole community.

In addition to the four charter Citizen Corps Programs, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), Medical Reserve Corps, Neighborhood Watch, Volunteers in Police Service, and the Department's citizen preparedness Ready campaign, Citizen Corps has also partnered with 16 other affiliate programs to help coordinate a range of opportunities in which citizens can participate.

As a vital component of USA Freedom Corps, Citizen Corps encourages citizens of America to answer the President's "call to service" and take an active role in building safer, stronger and better-prepared communities. To find out more about Citizen Corps and to find a local Council nearest you, please visit www.citizencorps.gov. To learn more about MMA, visit www.mercymedical.org.

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