Will Extend Network Into Rural Areas
Angel Flight of Tennessee, a
non-profit charitable air medical transportation organization
serving needy people and their families, will expand its outreach
to rural communities throughout the state. Aero-News learned
Wednesday the program plans to increase its pilot and volunteer
recruitment in order to improve its social service case work
throughout rural Tennessee.
"Every day, Angel Flight of Tennessee upholds its mission of
ensuring that financially-needy patients have access to distant
specialized medical care through air transport," said Jim Smith,
Executive Director, Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic. "We hope to reach
many people with life-threatening medical situations, especially
those who live in rural communities. We also hope to expand our
network of volunteer pilots statewide."
By providing free, life-saving, long-distance air transportation
to specialized medical facilities, Angel Flight can help restore
persons with rare diseases or with chronic or life-threatening
illnesses to normal life in the family and community.
"Angel Flight of Tennessee has brought hope to countless
patients and their families who need access to distant medical
care," says Edward Boyer, a board member of Angel Flight of
Tennessee who also is CEO and founder of Mercy Medical Airlift in
Virginia Beach, VA. "These patients, who lack financial means, rely
on Angel Flight pilots and volunteers to give them access to
medical facilities."
Angel Flight of Tennessee's expansion of services is made
possible through a 12-month "Mini" Compassion Capital Fund grant of
$50,000 from the US Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families. All funds will be devoted
to the project.
In Fiscal Year 2006, Angel Flight of Tennessee had 105 volunteer
pilots who completed 295 missions serving 450 passengers. The
public benefit was $235,363.
Angel Flight of Tennessee is part of Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic,
a 10-state region that coordinates travel missions of 1,000 miles
or less. Angel Flight's mission is to ensure that no needy patient
is denied access to distant specialized medical evaluation,
diagnosis or treatment for lack of long- distance medical air
transportation.
In 2006, Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic had nearly 1,500 volunteer
pilots who flew 1,812 missions, with a total of 3,393 passengers
and escorts flown. The public benefit was over $1.8 million.