Oct. 25, 2017
At Johnsonville Sausage, the company’s principals believe in philanthropy, and the responsibility to be of service. They call this the “Johnsonville Way,” and that dedication to service was recently on full display when the company donated its Global 6000 and crew to fly needed supplies to Puerto Rico, and bring 10 cancer patients back to the continental U.S. for critical treatment.
When the American Cancer Society contacted NBAA member Johnsonville with the need to secure patient transport off the hurricane-ravaged island, Andre Fodor, Johnsonville’s chief pilot and vice president of aviation, said the company “did not hesitate” to arrange for the use of the aircraft and crew.
“We wanted to maximize the assistance that we could provide, so we offered our aircraft to deliver supplies for two church-based organizations on our outbound flight to Puerto Rico,” he said. “That included food, medicine, toiletries and batteries and also a church-appointed relief coordinator.”
Teams from Atlantic Aviation, in Orlando, FL and Million Air, in San Juan, joined ground personnel from the American Cancer Society to load and unload the aircraft, and also to welcome patients on the return flight, which was filed as a “life flight” and received direct routing back to Orlando.
Fodor, pilot Mathew Olafsen, Director of Maintenance Chad Moore and flight attendant Sim Lenz went beyond the normal requirements of a flight crew to comfort the patients as they transitioned to Florida for their treatment.
“We offered light catering, and as a gesture of warmth, we provided every patient with a gift bag containing socks, crackers, tissues, gummy bears, candies and hand sanitizer, all in a bag that can be re-used,” said Fodor.
American Cancer Society team members told Fodor they could use more flights such as the one flown by the Johnsonville crew, because there are still many sick people in Puerto Rico who need medical assistance, as well as critical shortages of medicine and medical equipment.
Fodor said the company’s philanthropic philosophy runs deep, and without it, Johnsonville would just be another company making sausage.
“We believe that helping others is a privilege, and this kind of service builds team spirit, goodwill and loyalty. We receive just as much as we give,” he said.