Annual Soiree Includes Live And Silent Auctions Of Member-Donated Items

The NBAA and Corporate Angel Network (CAN) raised $505,000 through this year’s NBAA/CAN Soiree, an annual charity benefit held to support CAN’s life-saving flights for cancer patients.

The NBAA/CAN Soiree took place on Nov. 18 at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, at the end of the second day of NBAA’s annual Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA2015). CAN is the exclusive beneficiary of this annual charity event, which features live and silent auctions of items donated by NBAA member companies and other individuals from the business aviation community. This year’s soiree also included a concert by The Zippers, an award-winning dance band.

A nonprofit organization, CAN is the only charitable entity in the United States whose sole mission is to help cancer patients access the best possible treatment for their specific type of cancer by arranging free air travel to treatment facilities across the country using available seats on business aircraft. This not only improves the patients’ chances of survival, but also reduces their emotional stress, physical discomfort and financial burden. This past October, CAN, which is based at New York’s Westchester County Airport, arranged its 49,000th cancer patient flight since beginning operations in 1981.

“The business aviation community has a long history of supporting humanitarian and charitable causes, and more than 500 companies are involved in the live-saving work of CAN,” noted NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “Participation in this year’s soiree is just another way the industry gives back. NBAA thanks everyone who supported this worthy cause once again by attending the soiree.”

Peter Fleiss, CAN’s executive director, was also thankful for the industry’s support. “Each year business aircraft operators fly more than 2,500 flights taking cancer patients to the best possible treatment for their specific type of cancer. We appreciate these contributions, along with all that NBAA and the business aviation community do to ensure that the soiree raises the funds necessary to continue our life-saving work.”

(Source: NBAA news release)

FMI: www.nbaa.org