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Category Archives: Making a Difference
SkyWest Flies 50 Children to the North Pole!
On Saturday night, the SkyWest team in Colorado Springs (COS) and members from the community transformed part of the airport terminal into a dream come true for 50 children and their families for the seventh annual SkyWest Fantasy Flight! Children aboard the Fantasy Flight are enrolled in one of CPCD’s early childhood education programs. These children live at or below the federal poverty level, have an identified special need, or have a fragile home situation that puts them at risk for school failure.
The evening started with dinner, hob knobbing with Olympians and goofing around with Sox the Fox mascot! Once the plane arrived, the little passengers showed their boarding passes and were ushered into their seats to experience the miracle of flight for the first time.
“I have wanted to participate in this flight for a couple years now,” said COS CRJ Captain Bruce Paris.
“It really is an honor!” chimed in COS CRJ First Officer Kevin Scott.
The excitement was palpable as the kids fell silent and stared out the windows for takeoff. Once in the air, the flight attendants sung cheerfully (although not always in tune) and encouraged the kids to sing along.
After a joy-filled 30-minute flight full of song and laughter, the plane landed at the North Pole (otherwise known as a different area of the airport)! There, the kids were greeted by Santa Claus himself (and Mrs. Claus!) and enjoyed opening presents, eating cookies and playing games. One little girl summed up the event with a single statement, “This was the best Christmas ever!”
A lot of hard work and planning goes into every aspect of the flight. Right down to getting the fuel donated and making intricate snowflakes to decorate North Pole. But if you ask Jamie Young, SkyWest’s COS General Manager, the planning is just a small part of the big picture. “Seeing the kids and the parents enjoy the event makes it all worth it!” she said.
Thank you to the entire SkyWest COS team, dispatch, maintenance and crew members, and many others who volunteered their time in order to make the event happen. You truly exemplify the SkyWest spirit of giving and what the holiday season is all about!
Interesting side note: In order to decorate the terminal, brand new snowflakes were handmade because last year’s snowflakes were donated to Sandy Hook Elementary in the wake of the tragic shooting. Last year, the COS team sent 200 snowflakes to Sandy Hook, Conn. where they were hung in the gymnasium during the Sandy Hook Elementary Snow Flake Drive.
SkyWest Employees Raise More Than $10,000 for Cancer Research in October!
SkyWest Airlines employees across the country are constantly engaged in many different causes and charities; one of those efforts being raising money to support cancer research during the month of October. Through lemonade and bake sales, direct donations and various other avenues last month, SkyWest employees raised more than $10,000!
Donation Highlights:
· SLC-based flight attendants raised more than $6,330 as a part of Breast Cancer Awareness month, including more than $550 from one flight where a frequent flyer announced he would match any donations from his fellow passengers.
· Employees at SkyWest’s Corporate Headquarters put their cooking skills to work for a bake sale and the Second Annual Chili Cook Off, with all proceeds going to support the American Cancer Society. In less than two hours, more than $500 was added to the month’s contributions.
SkyWest employees are proudly committed to supporting causes like Breast Cancer Awareness, and in giving back to the communities where they live and work.
An Airport Wait to Remember
Imagine being at the airport with three small children in tow, waiting for your flight that has been delayed due to weather. How do you keep your kids entertained and stay sane yourself? Well, if you’re in LAX, just look out the window and maybe you’ll be lucky enough to see SkyWest Ramp Agent Glenn Terao putting on a performance that is guaranteed to put a smile on your children’s faces (and your’s too!).
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Glenn was recently working a number of flights one evening when he noticed Kim Brouillette and her family who were waiting in the terminal. After marshaling several flights, Glenn saw three little faces that kept watching him through the window. When the littlest one started to mimic some of Glenn’s signals, he realized he had found a way to keep the restless travelers entertained.
Before long, Glenn’s audience grew to a number of passengers, old and young who passed the time watching the young girls following Glenn’s instructions. At one point, “Mr. Glenn” as the girls called him, even came in to greet them with Halloween candy. What had once seemed like a terrible wait turned into a night to remember for the Brouillette family.
“My girls will never forget this,” said Kim. “He was a lifesaver!”
It was a memorable experience for Glenn as well. “I think I had as much fun as they did!” said Glenn, “I know what it’s like to be waiting for a flight and to feel restless. I just wanted to do something that would help these kids smile and make their trip an enjoyable one.”
With attitudes like this, it’s no wonder SkyWest’s industry-leading workforce is constantly bringing smiles to thousands of passengers every day. Thank you, Glenn for brightening the day – for these passengers but everyone that gets a chance to experience the type of service you’ve demonstrated!
SkyWest Flight Attendant Bekki Manville Runs Into History
When Bekki Manville’s brother invited her to run a Rock ‘N’ Roll half marathon in 2008, the Denver-based SkyWest flight attendant accepted the challenge, mostly because she learned she could receive a Superman medal if she ran the whole series. Little did she know that five years later she would become the just the sixth female and first Coloradan (male or female) to run a marathon in all 50 states, all under four hours.
After running 11 half marathons and one full marathon, in which she qualified for the Boston Marathon, Bekki knew she had to keep training. In 2009, she decided to run one marathon per month with no specific goals other than to see how many she could do and to enjoy the adventure. After completing eight marathons, the goal of running all 50 states, while daunting, started to seem attainable. She was finishing with awards, recovering quickly and having no pain. Bekki was blessed with a natural talent and knew she couldn’t throw away such a valuable gift.
After 25 states, Bekki was invited into the 50sub4 Marathon Club, a club supporting runners with a goal of running a marathon in all 50 states under four hours. Once the club reached out to Bekki, she became determined to finish the 50 states and D.C. under four hours and before her 40th birthday. On Sept. 1, 2013, on her 40th birthday, Bekki accomplished her goal in Hawaii in 3:30:12, becoming the youngest female to accomplish the feat.
“It’s always hard and I always hurt, but it’s amazing what positivity can do,” says Bekki. “Some races don’t have enough water, or it’s too hot or the hills go straight up, but it helps knowing we’re all experiencing the same challenges together.”
One of the biggest challenges Bekki faced was getting to and from the starting line. She made it to every state by planning races around her work schedule and where her duties as a flight attendant would be taking her. She even spent nights in her car and in airports but has no regrets. “My co-workers, especially the pilots and other flight attendants I have worked with, have been so supportive and not a trip goes by that I don’t get asked what number I am on,” she says. “It creates a camaraderie in which we share our stories and advice.”
If 50 marathons under four hours isn’t enough to impress you, you may be interested to know Bekki has won four marathons and placed in 31 others, including a victory over her twin brothers in the Layton, Utah marathon!
So what’s next for this running machine? Although she completed an Ironman in 2010, she feels she has unfinished business with triathlons. And with 62 marathons under her belt, she figures she may as well just make it an even 100!
Congratulations, Bekki on your amazing accomplishment and good luck on getting to 100!
SkyWest Airlines’ Annual Mini Indy is Once Again a Success
Checkered flags, pit crews, competitive drivers, fierce turns and racing speeds up to 23.5 miles per hour were just a few of the exciting elements at SkyWest Airlines’ thirteenth annual Mini Indy!
This March, teams from around the world met at the airline’s hometown of St. George, Utah to race head-to-head in fierce go-cart competitions, raising money for United Way Dixie and the SkyWest Scholarship Fund. To date, this fiercely popular event has raised nearly one million dollars for United Way Dixie charities.
Of the 35 teams that competed in the race, four were composed of SkyWest employees. Known throughout the company as RAVE (Recognizing A Valuable Employee) Team racers, these twenty employees were nominated by their leaders and peers to represent SkyWest in the Mini Indy based on their dedication to the airline, our passengers and fellow employees.
“I was ecstatic to find out I was selected to represent SkyWest in the Mini Indy,” said Kari Tate, RAVE Team #00 member and SkyWest benefits manager. “This opportunity was something that goes far beyond a pat on the back or ‘atta-girl.’ I was noticed, selected and appreciated! And being able to put my competitive nature into action through this competition was simply awesome!”
The SkyWest RAVE Teams held their own against 13-year veteran teams; RAVE team #94 competed in the finals for the Pit Stop Competition and placed third in both the Best Theme and Best-Looking Car categories, and RAVE Team #00 competed in the championship heat of the race!
After the final checkered flag was waved, Team Wencor Group/Trelleborg took home the title of Grand Champion – for the second year in a row!
And though many of the teams may already be looking ahead and strategizing for Mini Indy 2014, the funds raised through this year’s event will be continue to aid those in need for quite some time, as United Way Dixie utilizes the money to help those in need.
“The annual Mini Indy event allows SkyWest to contribute to local charities through United Way Dixie, an organization that helps offer a better life for children and families in poverty, abuse victims and many others in the community in need of support,” said SkyWest President and COO, Chip Childs.
For more about Mini Indy or details on the 2013 race, visit www.miniindy.org.
SkyWest Airlines’ Mini Indy Gives a “Turbo Boost” to Local Charities
SkyWest Airlines will once again “put the pedal to the metal” in 2013 in a race to benefit local charities. The 13th annual Mini Indy event, sponsored by SkyWest and the City of St. George, will bring in nearly 40 teams from around the world to SkyWest’s hometown of St. George, Utah. There, the teams will golf the world’s best courses and race go-carts head to head – with all proceeds benefiting United Way Dixie and the SkyWest Scholarship Fund.
“Mini Indy is part of SkyWest’s tradition of giving back to our hometown,” said Chip Childs, SkyWest Airlines President and COO. “Year after year, the industry’s elite bring their golf game and go-carts – and we look forward to passing the $1 million mark in donations benefiting local charity in 2013.”
In the last thirteen years, this unique event has raised nearly $1 million to help charities in Washington County. In 2012 alone, Mini Indy raised more than $65,000 for United Way Dixie, providing enough funding for the organization to fund four additional non-profit agencies for 2012 and 2013 – bringing the total of charities served to 17. This includes agencies such as the Dove Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Utah and Habitat for Humanity of Southwest Utah.
Melissa Ann Santora, Director of Community Engagement for habitat for Humanity of Southwest Utah, has volunteered at Mini Indy for several years.
“Our community is blessed by the continued success of Mini Indy,” she said.
“Without the generosity of our sponsors involved in Mini Indy, we would not be able to fund the agencies that provide important human services to our neighbors in need,” continued Rebekah Pectol, administrator, United Way Dixie.
The checkered flag will fly on Friday, March 22 at the “RidgeTop Raceway,” formerly the SGU airport. There, go-cart enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies will compete in a series of heats throughout the day. With fierce turns, obstacles and speeds up to 23.5 miles per hour, this year’s Mini Indy is sure to live up to the excitement that the race is known to deliver!
For more about Mini Indy, visit www.miniindy.org.
One Canadian “Thanksgiving,” In November
Thanksgiving does not always equal a day spent with family gathered around a food-filled table in the airline industry. In fact, many SkyWest employees spend Thanksgiving working hard to take care of the thousands of people who are flying around the country to see friends and loved ones. This includes David Miller, a SkyWest pilot based in Denver, Colo.
When David first saw his November schedule, he immediately saw that he would not have Thanksgiving off. However, in light of the holiday season, David emailed several shelters in the Winnipeg area to see if they were in need of volunteers. Siloam Mission answered: “Dear David, it is great you and your crew would like to volunteer over Thanksgiving on your layover. We have a few spaces for you, but please bring all the holiday cheer as Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving in October :-) Warm Regards, Victoria.” Though the holiday didn’t quite match up, David was excited for the chance to help.
On Nov. 22, Thanksgiving Day in the states, David awoke to low clouds, blowing snow and a wind chill of just 1° F. Undeterred, he met up with a fellow SkyWest crewmember and the two walked, as quickly as possible, to Siloam Mission. When they arrived, Victoria gave them a tour of the facilities, including its mini-hospital staffed by doctors, nurses, dentists and even chiropractors; a fully-equipped gym on the top floor; a resource room with computers; an apartment building for transitioning qualified individuals from the streets; a bedroom for emergency family shelter; separate female quarters; and a pile of donated clothes stacked so high, well, you could lose just about anything!
“It didn’t take long to realize how special this shelter is,” said David. “And the thing that really blew me away is their approach to clothing.”
At Siloam Mission, that approach is a clothing “store,” with one-on-one personal assistants to help guests find what they both need and want; all free of charge of course. No one walks out of Siloam with pants too big or shoes too small. With this methodology, Siloam bypasses the hurdle of self-consciousness and enhances the opportunity for an individual to focus on improving their lives in other more important areas.
Three hours after arriving, David and the other volunteers had served more than 350 meals to men, woman and children. David was in charge of placing three or four pickles on each plate. Of course, Corrie, the service leader, occasionally had to step in when he would try to give out a few more.
“We can’t be running out because David likes pickles and thinks everyone should get a fist full!” said Corrie.
The meals were complete with soup, sandwich, pie, bottomless coffee and a small battalion of helpful volunteers filling cups and taking plates. Many “Thank you’s,” and “Mmm, that looks great,” were spoken. The volunteers also had a chance to get to know some of the patrons.
“While waiting in line, an elderly gentleman spoke about his childhood in Russia, another stated he had a grandmother with dishes like those being used,” said David. “One gentleman, who looked about 45 years old, spoke about the apartment he was moving into that week; it would be the first place he ever had of his own.
“Taking a moment to look out over a sea of faces eating a warm meal is gratifying. Looking beyond to the windows and the 1° wind chill brings pause, knowing these folks would be out in the weather in less than an hour. It brings pause and thanks.”
The volunteers ate last and were happily surprised with a special treat from Chris, the head chef. He had prepared a Thanksgiving meal from scratch: handmade stuffing, smoked turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry and a healthy slice of Pecan pie.
While it wasn’t a typical layover, David said it can only be described as “a wonderful experience.”
David’s willingness to serve is just one example of the incredible things SkyWest employees are doing on a daily basis, as they look for ways to help and give back whenever possible.
Results Are In! SkyWest Mini Indy Raised More Than $100,000.
The donation totals are in for SkyWest Airlines’ annual Mini Indy! Once again, the charity event was a success as it raised more than $100,000 for United Way Dixie and the SkyWest Scholarship Program.
This year, 37 teams from around the world met in St. George to race go-carts and contend for the title of Mini Indy Champion. Since its inception in 2000, Mini Indy has raised nearly one million dollars for local charities through the race itself, golf tournament, dinner, pit crew competition and more.
Sponsored by SkyWest Airlines and the City of St. George, Mini Indy is the largest event benefiting United Way Dixie. In turn, United Way Dixie provides support for a number of charitable organizations and programs in Washington County including The ARC of Washington County, a non-profit organization that promotes the human rights of people with intellectual disabilities and actively supports their inclusion through interactive activities and social events throughout their lifetimes.
“We have always appreciated our partnership with United Way Dixie and SkyWest,” said Terry Hawks, director of Washington County ARC. “We wouldn’t be able to provide the services we do without the funds generated from Mini Indy.”
The Habitat for Humanity of Southwest Utah provides low income housing and exterior home repair projects through the Brush with Kindness Program for low-income families in Washington County.
“Our partnership with United Way Dixie affords us the opportunity to offer effective and impactful home preservation services for low-income homeowners in Washington County. United Way Dixie funding literally provides the tools we use to build homes, communities and hope,” said Melissa Ann Santora, Director of Community Engagement, Habitat for Humanity of Southwest Utah.
Additionally, funds raised through Mini Indy assist with the SkyWest Scholarship Fund, helping SkyWest employees and their families achieve their educational goals.
For more information on Mini Indy 2012, including race results and statistics, visit www.miniindy.org