Lightspeed Aviation recently featured Mark Hanson, volunteer pilot and Board Member of Above the Clouds.
Learn more about Mark’s inspiring journey with volunteer flying:
Mark Hanson of Above the Clouds joins FAA’s FAASTeam as a representative.
Lower the Nation’s aviation accident rate by conveying safety principles and practices through training, outreach, and education; while establishing partnerships and encouraging the continual growth of a positive safety culture within the aviation community.
Unlike their more affluent counterparts, students who live in underserved communities typically lack access to what are now considered STEM basics: up-to-date laboratories, laptop or tablet computers and access to the Internet. The Lynn Boys and Girls Club has built a STEAM lab in their Club for all participants to access and provides creative STEAM program for Club programs. “A surefire way for students in the U.S. to compete in the global technological economy is to provide them with real-life applications of STEM — and children in underserved areas are being left behind” 2021 USNews Report.
Thank you to Suzanne Wright and her team at the McAuliffe Center at Framingham State University! And, for the generous support from the MetroWest STEM Network.
On July 20, Above the Clouds will bring a bus to Norwood Memorial Airport including staff, families and six Dream Flyers from the Lynn Boys and Girls Clubs to provide Dream Flights for selected participants. On August 13th, as part of our Girls in Aviation programs, Above the Clouds will provide Dream Flights for girls from the Big Sister Boston program.
A different perspective and a little encouragement can go a long way to help those in need. Capt. Ken Hertz (JetBlue) learned this firsthand as an Above the Clouds volunteer. “It’s been an incredibly uplifting and rewarding experience,” he commented. Looking back at his nearly eight years with the charitable organization, he added, “Actually, I feel like I get more out of it than I put in.”
Above the Clouds is a Boston, Mass.-based nonprofit organization that “brings joy and hope through the wonder of flight to children and teens who have a serious illness or disability, are underserved, or facing other serious adversity.” The charity offers these individuals flying opportunities through its Dream Flyers, Discovery Flyers, and STEM Cadet Flyers programs. The organization also introduced a new Dream Flyover program to ensure it could maintain its outreach efforts during the current pandemic.
Above the Clouds works with Boston-area social services agencies and conducts presentations at local high schools to ensure that young people in the community have access to and can take advantage of this unique opportunity. Most of the charity’s pilots fly their own aircraft, but Above the Clouds owns a four-seat Piper Warrior for other pilots who want to volunteer their time.
Hertz is a ground-based flight coordinator for the organization but has held several positions, including member of the board of directors and pilot/mentor volunteer—the latter of which he’s found the most gratifying. Assisting with the Discovery Flyers program, he’s been paired with at-risk teenagers. “It’s like a Big Brothers/Big Sisters network, but with an aviation twist,” he said. “We use the excitement of flying to engage these kids and expose them to this whole new possibility for their futures.”
During Discovery Flights, young participants, who in many cases have never flown before, are given the opportunity to briefly fly an aircraft from the copilot’s seat. “They’re at the center of this activity, which is being orchestrated for their benefit, and it’s a powerful experience,” Hertz commented. “The kids take control of the plane. They turn, they climb, they descend. They look down at their school or home.”
The main base of operations for Above the Clouds is Norwood Memorial Airport in Norwood, Mass. With clearance from local air traffic control, the charity provides aerial tours of nearby Boston for these kids. They fly over the Charles River and do passes over Fenway Park and the city’s office buildings. Hertz observed, “Almost everyone comes away from this experience with a smile.”
Hertz noted that several years ago, a teenager from Quincy, Mass., came to Above the Clouds through an area social services program. In time, he earned a scholarship and graduated from a university with an accredited aviation program. Hertz remarked that it wasn’t long before this same young man joined Above the Cloud’s volunteer pilot ranks and flew another Boston-area youth from the social services program. Since then, the Quincy native has become an airline pilot.
Hertz was fortunate to develop his own interest in flying thanks to the help of his own mentor. A teacher and World War II vet, Ed McIlhenny, at his high school offered an elective class in flying. McIlhenny salvaged a 1930s-era simulator known as a Link Trainer, which he set up in the school’s basement. His course covered the basics of aviation including meteorology, and at the end of the year the students got the chance to go flying.
The 2021 JetBlue Foundation Grants Will Help 10 Charitable Organizations Continue their Critical Work Connecting Students from Traditionally Underrepresented Communities to Careers in Aviation
Applications for the 2022 JetBlue Foundation Granting Cycle are Open Now through March 25, for Grants Up to $50,000 Each
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– JetBlue (NASDAQ:JBLU) today announced the newest round of grants from the JetBlue Foundation, the first airline foundation focused solely on supporting aviation and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. For this round, the JetBlue Foundation awarded 10 charitable organizations with grants to support and advance their education and mentorship programs, furthering the Foundation’s mission of increased advocacy for inclusion, gender and racial parity within STEM and aviation.
In 2020, the JetBlue Foundation issued a round of rapid-response grants to 12 previous grant recipients whose programs were at-risk or severely impacted by the effects of the pandemic. This past October, the Foundation reopened the granting cycle to new applicants who are fighting for equity in aviation and STEM careers for traditionally underrepresented or disadvantaged groups.
“The JetBlue Foundation truly believes in these organizations and wants to support them as long-term partners. Early in the pandemic, we saw the need for additional support from existing partners, and in 2021 introduced several new programs and initiatives to help. With new programs like virtual programming, technology resources, mentorships, and rapid-response grants, we were able to ensure that our previous grantees could keep their doors open throughout the pandemic to support future aviators,” said Ursula Hurley, president of the JetBlue Foundation. “Once we were confident there was a clear path forward for our partners, we were excited to continue forward ourselves, reopening grant applications to new organizations, all of whom are actively working to advance diversity, gender and racial parity with the goal of increased access and interest in STEM and aviation careers. The JetBlue Foundation believes that by removing barriers to entry into careers in aviation, we can build a more diverse company, operation and industry at large.”
The JetBlue Foundation seeks out and supports programs dedicated to advancing and uplifting diverse communities traditionally underrepresented in STEM and aviation fields. Beyond grants, the JetBlue Foundation provides programs, mentors, internships, and support to help pave the way for more accessibility and inclusivity within the aviation industry.
The 2021 JetBlue Foundation Grantees Include:
The JetBlue Foundation is also excited to announce that the application process for the 2022 granting cycle is now open here through March 25, 2022 for grants up to $50,000 each, based on criteria, need and project scope (a).
The JetBlue Foundation is separate from JetBlue, with its own Board of Directors and an Advisory Committee both comprised of JetBlue crewmembers from across the airline. Grants are provided directly from the JetBlue Foundation. Although the JetBlue Foundation is separate from JetBlue, both are aligned in efforts to help diversify the STEM fields that fuel the airline.
For more information on the JetBlue Foundation, visit www.jetbluefoundation.org or JetBlue’s 2020 Social Impact Report, which can be found here.
About the JetBlue Foundation
Since 2013, the JetBlue Foundation has built lasting relationships with nearly 100 science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and aviation-focused programs, providing over $2 million in grants and in-kind support to help these programs take off. The JetBlue Foundation furthers JetBlue’s work to place aviation top of mind as a future career choice for students. The JetBlue Foundation provides financial, in-kind and mentorship support to education and pipeline initiatives focused on STEM to ensure that even more women and traditionally underrepresented groups are present in the hangars, boardrooms, airports and airline corporate offices of the future. To learn more visit jetbluefoundation.org.
| a) |
The JetBlue Foundation will award grants up to $50,000 each to qualifying educational organizations (i.e. schools, educational institutions, or educational alliances), as described under the grant proposal criteria. Once the JetBlue Foundation has received an organization’s completed application, the organization will receive a confirmation email. Due to the volume of grant requests received, the JetBlue Foundation is not able to individually reach out or award grants to every applicant. Should an organization be selected to receive a grant, a representative of the JetBlue Foundation will reach out directly. |
About JetBlue Airways
JetBlue is New York’s Hometown Airline®, and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles, Orlando and San Juan. JetBlue carries customers across the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America, and between New York and London. For more information, visit jetblue.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220308005767/en/
Media Contact
JetBlue Corporate Communications
Source: JetBlue
Above the Clouds is excited to announce a partnership with the American Tower Foundation. Our partnerships with local businesses and their employees are invaluable to this little organization. We are able to serve hundreds of children and teens through the work of volunteers whose employers support their dedication to the community. Like, American Tower and their Social Justice Committee! American Tower Corporation is an American real estate investment trust and an owner and operator of wireless and broadcast communications infrastructure in several countries worldwide and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Above the Clouds has the good fortune to have had an employee of American Tower nominate the organization for this grant award. American Tower has placed a high priority on social justice and has dedicated resources and funds to support local organizations.
Through our Discovery Flyers and Cadet Programs, Above the Clouds introduces communities that are underrepresented within the aviation industry to careers as private or commercial pilots, certified flight instructors, engineers, mechanics, airport managers and air traffic control. We are thrilled to have the support of American Tower to continue our mentoring initiatives and to launch NEW programs in 2022. Each of our programs focuses on inclusion and equity within aviation fields, but also in inspiring hope for children and teens facing serious adversity. Check back on ATC’s social media and website to read testimonials and stories of youth served within Above the Clouds’ programs that have gone on to become pilots. With this grant, Above the Clouds hopes to engage more American Tower employees as volunteers in our Dream Flights and Cadet programs. Also, partially supported by this award, is the launch of a new speaker series and STEM programming. The first Dream Flight Day of 2022 will feature a booth from Cape Cod Community College’s Aviation Maintenance Technology program, hosted by one of our pilot volunteers.
If you work for a local business or corporation that supports volunteerism and community engagement, please volunteer with us! If your employer encourages employee nominated charitable organizations for funding, please consider Above the Clouds!
Thank you American Tower Foundation for your support.
Above the Clouds brings joy and hope through the wonder of flight. Our Dream Flyover, Dream Flyers, Cadet Flyers and Discovery Flyers programs are intended to to help youth through difficult times or even realize a passion for aviation. This has been one of the most challenging years in history, but at Above the Clouds we have been determined to continue bringing joy and hope to those that need it most.
November is the beginning of the season of giving but it’s always the season of giving at Above the Clouds! Listed below are three stories that inspired us this year and we hope will provide you with some feel-good news this holiday season. Thank you for your continued support of Above the Clouds during these unprecedented times.
Check out Tis the Season…Part 1 for more feel good new stories 🙂
Back to 2022 Press Releases