Family Promise continues to grow our relationship with American Airlines. Nationwide, chapters of American’s Professional Women in Aviation (PWA), an employee business resource group for women in the company, are visiting Affiliates and exploring ways they can support our mission.
Over the recent holidays, Affiliates in Wake County, NC; Lee County, NC; York County, SC; Chicago, IL; and Irving, TX welcomed PWA members bearing gifts—pajamas, robes, slippers, and blankets—for guest families. In Irving, it was a Lunch ‘n Learn, with Director Teri Petty presenting a Family Promise video to introduce the members to the Affiliate’s work. She said she wants to build upon their first meeting. “I plan on inviting the ladies to our next Night of Promise at our Day Center. Ultimately, we’d love to provide them with volunteer opportunities—we could train them to act as a buddy organization to our congregations.”
Raquiiba Dawes of American Airlines with Wake County Director Danielle Butler.
In Wake County, PWA members made their third visit within the past year to Family Promise with gifts. Raquiiba Dawes and Tracey Page from the PWA’s Raleigh chapter have donated individual-size hygiene items, school supplies, and holiday gift bags of clothing to the Affiliate. Director Danielle Butler said, “It’s really nice that they just show up with these timely and unique donations we’re in need of. It means a lot to us and it’s very apparent that it means just as much to them.”
American Airlines has also designated Family Promise as a Business Extra participant. When purchasing tickets, flyers can enter a unique Family Promise Business Extra account number and American Airlines will match their individual miles with donated miles to Family Promise to support our travels nationwide.
Future partnership plans include the development of volunteer and fundraising opportunities. The relationship between Family Promise and American Airlines is an innovative example of leveraging talent and resources between organizations at the community level to change the lives of the families we serve.
