2024 Annual Appeal

Your gift provides access to lifesaving and life-changing medical care, provides opportunities for students to explore the world of aviation through our SOAR into STEM program, and supports humanitarian efforts abroad.

Gratitude is one of the most powerful sentiments we hear from patients and their families at Wings of Hope. This heartfelt appreciation, whether seen in a 5-year old’s smile after running the bases for the very first time, or a mother’s tears of joy as her critically ill child is safely flown to a hospital from a remote village, is made possible by your support.

Helping them grow stronger

Elizabeth and CJ were both five when we started flying them to Shriners Children’s St. Louis. After 55 flights, 12-year-old Elizabeth — who was pulling herself around by her forearms when we first met — is walking with arm crutches. We’ve only flown CJ two times roundtrip, but this active little guy who was born with clubfoot will need to keep seeing his Shriners’ team until at least his eighth birthday. Whether they need five more flights or 50, Wings of Hope will continue taking care of the travel so their families can focus on taking care of them.

“Elizabeth is thriving.”

– Pat, Elizabeth’s aunt

Educating the next generation

Our SOAR into STEM program welcomes students into the Wings of Hope hangar for a five-week, hands-on learning experience guided by experienced mentors and culminating in a Young Eagles flight in a general aviation airplane. While learning about principles of flight, aircraft maintenance, aerodynamics engineering and uncrewed aerial vehicles, students are exposed to a multitude of aviation career paths.

“I think this program really helps students
to realize what they’re actually getting into.”

—Marie Curia, SOAR into STEM mentor
and system safety engineer at Boeing

Answering a call for help

When a 10-year-old boy suffered a snake bite in Papua New Guinea’s Chambri Lakes region, our Global Humanitarian Network partner, Samaritan Aviation, got the call — and arrived by floatplane within minutes.

“When we arrived, we loaded a young boy named Junior. He was foaming at the mouth and delirious, unable to talk and violently thrashing. He was secured within seconds, and we were airborne for a 30-minute flight to the Wewak Hospital. His only chance to live was the snake antivenom he so desperately needed.”

– Mark Palm,
CEO and co-founder, Samaritan Aviation