Angel Flight pilot Ron Calugar handles a stretcher patient with tender loving care.
Our volunteer pilots past and present just can’t help piling up good deeds on top of their Angel Flight service. Here are just a few examples:
Joe Federico (Virginia) volunteers for the American Red Cross as a CPR, first aid, and oxygen administration instructor.
Richard Love (Virginia) cycled for years to raise funds in bike tours for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and pulled in over $4,000 toward research to find a cure for the dreaded disease. He is active in Rotary Club and raised money for schools in underdeveloped countries.
John Clough (Pennsylvania) runs a health-food wholesale distribution business and does volunteer work to help anyone in need. “My whole life is dedicated to helping people,” he says.
Paul Connor is an optometrist from Ohio who has donated his time and professional skill to provide eye care for residents of Kingston, Jamaica. He also trains locals to perform optical work and manufacture eyeglasses, which are sold at a minimal cost or given to clients unable to afford them.
Rev. John Hoffmann (Virginia) has participated in numerous humanitarian endeavors. He flew medical missions in Tanzania and conducted assessment work of refugee camps in Kenya and Uganda.
Ron Calugar, also of Virginia, has donated his considerable computer knowledge and ability to create databases for Angel Flight and other partner charities of Mercy Medical Airlift that increase efficiency and accuracy in the complex business of mission coordination.
Michigan’s Dick Lawrence founded Kid’s Wings, a medical flight charity that mainly helps children but also includes adults in need of access to medical treatment. He’s flown over 165 missions for this group alone! Dick fills a special niche as a “pilot of last resort” in his region. When the various coordinating agencies cannot find other volunteers, they will often contact Dick to see if he can do it. He’s their “go to” guy in this area and tries to be available to respond on a moment’s notice.
I could name many more pilots and many more feats of kindness but haven’t time or space to call them out. Richard Love, who retired his wings a couple of years ago, summed up the spirit behind the service of our generous pilots when he said, “Giving to others becomes pure joy.”