Rewind: Top 10 Giving Moments of 2019
At PSA, #TheWayWeGiveBack is more than just a hashtag we use on social media. Giving back to the communities where our team members live and work is at the very core of who we are as an organization.
Check out our top 10 favorite moments of giving in 2019 below (in no particular order):
1. American Cancer Society
In 2019, PSA team members were continuously 'Making Strides Against Breast Cancer'. Across the network, a number of our bases celebrated Be Pink Day by hosting fundraising events to support the fight against breast cancer.
CLT Stores Supervisor, Duane Carl Festive for Be Pink Day
2. Toys for Tots
PSA was able to create a lot of smiles this past holiday season! Starting in November and through to the end of December, PSA team members collected newly, unwrapped toys for their local Toys for Tots chapters. Read more about our Toys for Tots drive here.
DCA Team Members Purchasing Toys for Tots for Tots Drive
3. USO
Our Employee Relations team was able to purchase supplies for the USO and packed goodie bags for traveling service members and their families during the holiday season!
Employee Relations Team Volunteering at USO
4. Emergency Relief Efforts
2019 proved to be a year of unpredictability, as well as a testament to how our PSA team rallies together in times of great need. Emergency relief efforts, made for and by PSA team members, were both seen and felt during the natural disasters and unexpected tragedies of 2019.
PSA Team Members Participating in Tornado and Hurricane Relief Efforts at The Foodbank, Inc. in Dayton
5. Snowball Express
PSA team members joined forces with American Airlines and the other wholly-owned carriers of the American Airlines Group to create unforgettable memories for families boarding the Gary Sinise Foundation Snowball Express to Disneyworld! Learn more about Snowball Express here.
ORF Team Members Preparing for Snowball Express Passengers
6. Honor Flight Dayton (across the PSA network)
Annually, PSA donates to Honor Flight Dayton, a non-profit organization dedicated to taking war veterans to see their national memorials in Washington, D.C. For 2019, Alexander Hernandez (FA), Scott Spires (CA), and Evan Maxwell (CA) participated in Honor Flight Dayton as Guardians for the veterans during the event. Learn more about Honor Flight Dayton here.
Flight Attendant Alexander Hernandez, Captain Scott Spires, Captain Evan Maxwell for Honor Flight Dayton
7. Princess Shannie
In 2019, our team helped to create a royal experience for a princess! American and PSA team members hosted gate-side celebrations on each leg of "Princess" Shannie Pooser's journey to CVG for a life-saving surgery. Relive the moment with a video here.
Princess Shannie Receives a Royal Welcome at Her Final Destination in CVG
8. Aviation Education
We love aviation and enjoy being able to share our passion for the skies within our communities. In 2019, DAY based team members hosted Air Camp. Participants (Grades 6-8) of the program learned more about how airlines operate. Learn more about Air Camp Dayton here.
Flight Attendant Pamela Palmer was also able to share her aviation experiences with students on Career Day. Palmer talked to students at Oakdale Elementary School in Rock Hill, S.C. about what it's like to work for an airline.
PSA Recruiting and Maintenance Teams Teaching Air Camp Goers about Aviation
Flight Attendant Pamela Palmer at Oakdale Elementary School in Rock Hill, S.C.
9. Ronald McDonald House
PSA really 'pulled' together to support the Ronald McDonald House in 2019!
In May, Inflight Supervisor Robin Coombs was able to contribute seven additional pounds of soda tabs to the collection of donations.
According to the KNOXRMHC.org website, “It takes 1,250 pop tabs to equal a pound! During 2016, about $2,000 was raised which covers the stay for 400 families.” To learn more about the Ronald McDonald House Charities, click here.
TYS Inflight Supervisor Robin Coombs Volunteering for Ronald McDonald House Charities
10. And We Can't Forget Our Furry Friends!
Likely, our most energetic community partners, PSA was able to create a great impact with the help of our animal friends in 2019.
On Halloween, Pilot Erin Orga participated as an ambassador for PITPAWS at the Pittsburgh International Airport. The purpose of the PITPAWS program is to alleviate stress and worry from flying passengers.
PSA also donated funding to 4PAWS for Ability, a non-profit organization that focuses on training and placing services dogs with children and veterans. Our donation was able to help Josh Ferris, an Army veteran, receive the service dog he needed. Read more about Josh's story here.
Pilot and PITPAWS Ambassador Erin Orga on Halloween at Pittsburgh International Airport
Thank you to all of our PSA team members for working so diligently to make our communities better in 2019. We look forward to 2020 being another great year of giving, sharing, and caring!