Download Summit Up, Flight 33's newsletter. NEWS: 2009 | 2008 | 2007 Remembering a Wonderful Friend September 25, 2008 Flight 33 has lost a most compassionate and caring friend. Dolores Joerger lived in California and never met us, but was committed to helping our children. Dolores set up a charitable foundation that assisted those in need. Flight 33 has benefited greatly from her foundation over the past 4 years. With the help of the Joerger Family Charitable Foundation, we were able to distribute school supplies to 150 children, and buy school clothes and shoes for 50 children just this year. Our food box delivery continues monthly mainly from the Joerger Family funds that were donated. There are numerous other ways those funds have helped throughout the year. Flight 33 is a tiny nonprofit in a small town near Phoenix, Arizona, but with help from Dolores and her family we felt mighty. Dolores was a wonderful partner and friend. We feel the loss, but her spirit lives on in those that she has helped along the way. Dolores Joerger passed away on her birthday, August 4, 2008. We wish peace, love, and blessings to the family of Dolores Joerger. She will always have a special place in the heart of the volunteers and children of Flight 33. Photo by Mitch Aldrich A Simple Thank You from the Heart August 2008 Dear Flight 33 Crew and Supporters, There are times in all of our lives when the results of our work are not evident. Day by day, we still go about our jobs, raising our children, working for a cause, coaching a team, taking care of an elderly parent, and much more. This commitment is a testament to our upbringing and work ethic. Once in a while, though, we do get a glimpse that what we are doing does make a difference. That happened to all of us recently in Flight 33. For the past two years we have been helping a woman with four children and one new baby granddaughter. Rebecca is dying of cancer. The cancer began in her lungs and has now advanced to her brain. To us, sending gift cards for food, school clothes, and necessities was just a little something we could do. To Rebecca and her family it’s much more. Rebecca recently hand wrote a beautiful letter. Here is an excerpt: “Hi, this is Rebecca. I hope my letter is legible. The tumor is pressing against my brain affecting my eyesight, so I only have half vision from my right eye. I’ve been very shaky so bear with me, please… I want to tell you how much I appreciate what you and Flight 33 have done for my family. You’ve gone beyond and well, I’m extremely grateful. I always look forward to your words of hope and encouragement. They mean a lot to me and every now and then I have to pull one out and read it to help me through the moment or the day. You have no idea how much you’ve gotten me through. Thank you! God bless you. It’s funny how your gift cards arrive when most needed, also. Thank you.” I am writing this note to thank all of you who made this work possible. Everyone that donated time, money, prayers, and necessities to Flight 33, played a part in helping Rebecca. Her letter was meant for you. God bless you as you go about your daily work, knowing that you truly do make a difference, not only in the life of your family and friends, but in the lives of people like Rebecca. With gratitude and blessings, Chris Puzauskas Volunteer Director Update: Rebecca passed away just months after this letter was written. Our prayers and deep sympathy goes out to her family. Joey's Night June 1, 2008 Joey Gonzales graduated from Compadre High School on May 22, 2008. It was a windy evening, threatening rain, which was very unusual for late May in Tempe, Arizona. Balloons flew every which way, while excited friends and family tried their best to keep from losing them. The wind could have easily been a symbol for the stormy times that many Compadre graduates had weathered during their high school years. It was a night to celebrate, though, and Joey’s whole family, including grandparents and cousins were all there. Joey spent much of his high school career at Marcos de Niza High, but finished needed credits at Compadre. He overcame some obstacles and never gave up. His parents were always encouraging him and he presented them with a rose that night to say, “Thanks.” Joey took part in Flight 33 for seven years, working on homework and projects. He knew he had to work to graduate. It was his desire that made this night come to pass. If Joey had a chance to give advice to others in his shoes, he would say, “Never give up. There are schools that will help you. You can do it. Push yourself and believe in yourself.” In the future, Joey wants to be an automobile mechanic. He sees so many people in his community needing cars repaired. Many are not able to get to work or to the doctor. Joey wants to help the people in his town to get needed repairs. All of us in Flight 33 salute Joey Gonzales for his success and for his care for others. Peace Is the Goal Comes to Guadalupe May 24, 2008 Peace Is the Goal held a soccer clinic for Flight 33 kids on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at the fields at Frank School in Guadalupe, Arizona. A goodwill initiative that provides soccer equipment to children around the world, Peace Is the Goal was founded by Mitchell Arnold, a 15-year-old soccer player and certified referee from Fort Atkinson High School in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. He and his dad, Paul, a long-time U14/U12 coach for traveling soccer teams in Fort Atkinson, ran the clinic. It was 100% free. This mini-camp taught Flight 33 kids some of the important skills to playing soccer, including dribbling, passing, shooting, throw-ins, goalkeeping and defense. A scrimmage took place at the end of the mini-camp. This camp was a great opportunity for kids that had never played soccer. It was all around good fun for the participants, including the Flight 33 volunteers. Leo, one of the young players said, “I could stay here all week!” Richie, new to the game, was so encouraged by his new ability, that he wants to play school sports, something he had never thought possible. Peace Is the Goal aims to make the world a better place to live by spreading the message of peace and giving through “the world’s game,” soccer. Since October 2006, Mitch has shipped nearly $4,000 worth of soccer gear, including more that 200 new soccer balls to kids in countries such as Haiti, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Ecuador, Jamaica, Afghanistan, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mexico, Vietnam and the United States. Flight 33 was very fortunate, not only to be the recipient of soccer balls, equipment, and instructional materials from Mitch, but to have Mitch and his Dad give their time and expertise to help the youth of Flight 33. Mitch proved that at a young age of 15, he could make a difference in the lives of others. He certainly made a difference to all of us in Guadalupe! Companionship is Win-Win May 24, 2008 Three of the youth from Flight 33 - Chon, Gina and Eulalia - have been regular visitors to Village Oaks Special Care Unit in Chandler, Arizona. Residents in this unit have progressive dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Many have difficulty communicating, but become engaged when the youth give them attention and speak to them directly. It took a few visits for the three to get to know a little bit about the residents and how things operate. But once they learned, they began looking forward to the visits, which are about twice a month. Each visit is a little different. For example during one visit, Chon played Checkers with Charlie. Eulalia and Gina drew each residents name on a piece of white construction paper for them to hang in their rooms. The girls did a beautiful job decorating each name and the residents’ eyes lit up when they saw their name. We closed the visit with JINGO, a form of BINGO that uses full words. The kids quickly learned the personalities of the residents and after each visit would talk about their different experiences in the car. They really got a kick out of some of the comments that they heard. The people have a great sense of humor and the kids enjoy that each time. We’re stepping this up, because we know that many of the people at Village Oaks love taking part in activities. Most evident is that people of all ages simply love companionship. NEWS: 2009 | 2008 | 2007
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