Angel Flight West Celebrates Record-Breaking $1 Million Milestone at Endeavor Awards

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[LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA] — Angel Flight West (AFW) is proud to announce that its 12th Annual Endeavor Awards fundraiser raised more than $1 million in pledges and commitments in support of the organization’s mission to provide free medical transportation for patients in need. This marks the first time in Endeavor Awards history that the event has reached this extraordinary milestone.

The evening also celebrated several outstanding honorees whose leadership, service, and commitment embody the spirit of AFW’s mission, including Will Cutter and Cutter Aviation, Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, Chris Bennett, Volunteer Pilot with Angel Flight West, and Jerry Hill, Volunteer Pilot with Challenge Air for Kids & Friends.

This historic achievement was made possible through the collective generosity and leadership of AFW’s board members, sponsors, donors, volunteers, and supporters. Contributions came in many forms, including sponsorships, silent and live auction donations, hosted tables in honor of volunteer pilots, and personal invitations that expanded support for the evening’s mission. Several sponsored tables raised more than $50,000 during the event.

“Reaching this incredible milestone is a testament to the generosity, passion, and unwavering commitment of this extraordinary community. What began as a bold vision has become a powerful reality – and together, we are proving what’s possible when people rally around a mission that truly changes lives,” said Emily Deaton, Chair of the Angel Flight West Board of Directors.

Funds raised through the Endeavor Awards directly support Angel Flight West’s mission of arranging free, non-emergency medical flights for children and adults who need access to healthcare far from home. The success of this year’s event ensures AFW can continue serving thousands of families through the dedication of volunteer pilots, drivers, commercial airline partners, and supporters across the western United States.

“In today’s economic climate, this level of generosity is truly remarkable,” said AFW Executive Director, Mary Hunter. “It reflects both the growing need for our services and the deep belief within our community that access to healthcare transportation changes lives.”

Every contribution made during the Endeavor Awards reinforces the strength of the AFW community and its commitment to helping patients access critical medical care with less burdens and more hope.

AFW extends heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made the evening possible, including donors, sponsors, volunteers, staff, and board members whose leadership and commitment continue to propel the mission forward.

“Together, we are making an immeasurable difference in the lives of the patients and families we serve,” said Hunter.

AFW also extends special thanks to its major sponsors: Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, The Marshall and Margherite McComb Foundation, AOPA, ATC Consultants, UCLA Health, Warfield Distillery, Cutter Aviation, Spear Vineyards & Winery, Huntsman Cancer Foundation, Kenny & Irene Kato, The Si Robin Foundation, and the Zemeckis Foundation.

The 13th Annual Endeavor Awards will take place in Los Angeles on May 7, 2027.

SOURCEAngel Flight West
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Angel Flight West
Flying towards hope on the wings of an angel. A small child, ravaged by cancer, needs specialized lifesaving treatment at a hospital 300 miles away. A father, separated from his family by a hurricane, wants desperately to be reunited. A domestic-violence survivor longs to start a new life in another city, but cannot afford to leave. These are just a few of the people to whom we offer help and hope. There’s an angel in the cockpit. The ability to travel easily across the country is something that most of us take for granted. But for those whose lives are in turmoil, the financial, physical, and emotional burdens can make ordinary trips extraordinarily difficult. That’s when they turn to Angel Flight West. Our network of 1,400+ volunteer pilots fly their own planes and pay for all costs out of their own pockets, in order to make these critical journeys. At our headquarters in Santa Monica, California, our ground team manages the complex system of matching pilots with passengers, coordinating the flights, spreading the word among referral agencies, and continually recruiting new volunteers. What we do is much like running a small airline, further complicated by the extra care and expense of working with passengers who need our help, their families, as well as medical and hospital personnel. The beneficiaries of the flight – the passengers and their families, the healthcare organizations – pay nothing at all, ever. We love to fly. And we want to help. Who are these pilots, and why do they give so much of their time and money to help strangers? They’re engineers, scientists, and teachers. Doctors, lawyers, and corporate executives. Retired commercial pilots and young entrepreneurs. But as different as these men and women might be, they all have two things in common: The love of flying, and the desire to touch people’s lives. When Angel Flight West began in 1983, our mission was so unique that we sometimes had trouble convincing healthcare providers that we would and could do what we promised: fly people in our own planes for free. It almost seemed too good to be true. We’re there when they need us. Today, no one questions our capabilities or our commitment. Not only have we earned the gratitude of our passengers, we’ve earned the trust and respect of a long list of organizations – large research hospitals, children’s hospitals, VA hospitals, specialized treatment centers, and small rural healthcare centers… children’s protective services, and domestic violence shelters… special camps for children with medical needs. When someone’s transportation needs are critical, organizations both large and small know they can depend on us. We’re proud to help them. Read more at https://www.angelflightwest.org/

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