Now in its 35th year, the Corporate Angel Network (CAN) has arranged transportation to treatment centers aboard business aircraft for 51,000 cancer patients. Through CAN, some 500 companies donate empty seats on their corporate aircraft to cancer patients so they can travel to treatment centers that in many cases are far from home.
Again this year at the NBAA Convention, the organization is holding a fund-raising auction during its soirée on Wednesday evening (November 2) in the Orlando Ballroom of the Hilton Orlando. Last year the event raised $505,000.
For the first time, CAN supporters can bid online this year at my.bidpal.net/nbaacansoiree. Among the donated items on the block: a Gogo Biz ATG 5000 system; four FlightSafety advanced training courses for Gulfstreams, Falcons, Citations and King Airs; a $1,000 Avfuel jet fuel card; a King Schools international ops kit; David Clark Pro-X headset; various desk display models; and “two round-trip seats on premium scheduled flights.” Trips to Aspen, Colo. for the 2017 Food & Wine Classic; Dubai, with five-star accommodations; and Seattle, Wash., for a “priceless aviation experience with Boeing.”
Also on the block are a basketball autographed by NBA Champion and Olympic Gold-Medal Winner Kyrie Irving; a football signed by Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater; a framed photo autographed by Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman; a New York City Broadway show package; and a guitar autographed by rock legends Gene Simmons and Ace Frehley of Kiss.
New Leadership
Gina Russo was appointed executive director of the Corporate Angel Network in July this year, responsible for program development, operations, fundraising and community relations for the organization.
Most recently she was the national executive director of patient access programs at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, where she had worked for 10 years. She designed and implemented the patient call center’s patient navigation program, which provides blood cancer patients with scheduled follow-up phone calls to ensure they are not facing barriers to care. By partnering with the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University to study the outcome of this proactive service, it was found that patients who receive continuing support and guidance are more likely to seek second opinions with specialists for their diagnosis, as well as explore clinical trial treatment options.
Russo completed her undergraduate work at Bucknell University and her Masters Degree at New York University School of Social Work. At the time of her appointment, Russo said, “I am excited to join the Corporate Angel Network team. CAN’s mission aligns perfectly with my professional passion to help cancer patients access the best possible care for their diagnosis, regardless of location. I am truly impressed by the positive effect CAN’s work has on patients and their family members, and I am thankful to the hundreds of CAN supporters who help make this wonderful service possible.”
Last month, Russo reflected on her first few months in her new role: “CAN is a strong place to continue serving cancer patients by making sure they have access to the best possible care. We are committed to our outreach initiative to retain more companies to assist us and to work with private jet owners and fractional owners interested in assisting those we serve. CAN is recognized by the medical community as an important resource for cancer patients who need to travel, and we work with many patients in clinical trials who can access care only at select treatment centers throughout the country.
“The soirée is an extremely important event for us–one of our largest fund-raisers throughout the year, and we’re hopeful it will continue to raise more than $400,000, as it has in years past.
“We’re always looking to streamline both corporations’ and patients’ experience. New electronic tools and enhancements will be coming out next year to make us more mobile-capable,” she said.
