Corporate Angel Network
April 21, 2016
In times of need, the business aviation industry can be counted on to help others – whether due to natural disasters, accidents or medical needs – on a moment’s notice.
Corporate Angel Network (CAN) – an organization that helps hundreds of people each month travel to needed cancer treatments around the country – recently celebrated its milestone 50,000th patient flight since its founding 35 years ago.
“The people at Corporate Angel Network are very caring, dedicated and on top of everything,” said Johnathan Yerby, whose son Baron, 1, was part of the historic flight, traveling back home to Atlanta from New Jersey’s Teterboro Airport (TEB) following cancer treatment in New York. “This flight took away so much of our stress and it was also much easier for Baron, who tends to squirm and get feisty when we fly commercial, because he’s sitting on our laps and can’t move around. We are very grateful for the opportunity to fly with Corporate Angel Network. We felt so cared for.”
The Yerby family few on a Bombardier Challenger 300 owned by NCR Corp., which has been actively involved in CAN.
“In keeping with our mission and shared values as a corporation, we started working with Corporate Angel Network in 2010,” Andrea Ledford, executive vice president, chief administration office and chief human resources officer for NCR. “We are honored to be a part of this historic milestone flight and, more importantly, our prayers and well wishes are with Baron and his parents.”
“I think it’s a privilege to do this,” said NCR’s Don Walker, who piloted the flight along with Doug Gerdes. “We are really happy to help out, and anything we can do [to support CAN and the Yerbys], we are glad to do it.”
More than 500 companies work with CAN, which has a staff of six and 30 volunteers. CAN averages 225 patient flights each month to cancer treatment centers around the country.
“On behalf of Corporate Angel Network’s Board of Directors, volunteers, staff and most importantly, the thousands of cancer patients we are able to transport to specialized treatment every year,” said Randall Greene, chairman of the organization, “I’d like to personally thank NCR for this milestone flight. It’s because of NCR and the many other corporations, along with the entire business aviation community’s support, that we are able to assist so many with cancer-related travel on the aircraft of America’s leading companies.”