CORPORATE ANGEL: Dow Chemical Honored for Flight Service to Cancer Patients
November 25, 2012
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By: Dave Rogers
The Corporate Angel Network (CAN) is dedicated to helping cancer patients and their care givers access the best possible treatment.
CAN is the only charitable organization in the U.S. whose sole mission is to help cancer patients access the best possible treatment for their specific type of cancer by arranging free travel to treatment across the country using corporate jets.
A charitable service that uses empty seats on corporate airplanes on routine flights to transport cancer patients is in the MyBayCity.com spotlight today.
The Corporate Angel Network (CAN) is dedicated to helping cancer patients and their care givers access the best possible treatment.
CAN has recognized The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) with its "Angel of the Year" award for the company's outstanding service to cancer patients.
Dow has partnered with CAN for nearly 30 years, flying more than 6,000 flights that have helped patients with catastrophic illness and costly medical bills reach the specific treatment center needed for their particular type of cancer. Dow employees and retirees also utilize the program, some of them making weekly commutes for treatment.
Founded in 1981, Corporate Angel Network (www.CorpAngelNetwork.org) now includes 500 participating corporations, along with a team of 60 part-time volunteers and six paid staff who work with patients, physicians, corporate flight departments and leading treatment centers to coordinate medical travel needs of cancer patients. To date, Corporate Angel Network has arranged nearly 17,000 flights, and currently provides more than 160 patient flights per month.
"I am honored and humbled to accept such an award on behalf of Dow," said Gregory Freiwald, Chief Human Resources Officer, Aviation, Corporate Affairs, and Executive Vice President, who accepted the award October 31 during the National Business Aviation Association?s 65th Annual Meeting and Convention.
"This is a testament to how deeply corporate citizenship is ingrained in everything we do -- both in seeking new opportunities to solve world challenges, and to leveraging our day-to-day operations into partnerships that improve the human condition." Eugene Cernan, retired U.S. Navy officer, former NASA astronaut and the last man to walk on the moon, presented the award.
CAN is the only charitable organization in the U.S. whose sole mission is to help cancer patients access the best possible treatment for their specific type of cancer by arranging free travel to treatment across the country using empty seats on corporate jets.
Dow was chosen for merging business activity with corporate citizenship, resulting in decidedly better prognosis for the thousands of patients who, because of Dow's generosity, have been able to receive the best possible medical treatment.
Leveraging its corporate aircraft in the interest of humanity is not new to Dow. In early 2010, the Company utilized its aircraft to deliver nearly $1 million of priority medical relief materials to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in response to the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake on January 12. The flight returned with 42 stranded Haitian orphans, from infants to 15 years old, who had been approved for adoption by American families prior to the quake. Dow covered all costs associated with the flight.
In July the same year, Dow flew its third all-expenses paid "Honor Flight," transporting 75 World War II veterans and Dow retirees, along with 41 Dow employee veterans, from Texas to Washington, D.C. to visit memorials that were built to honor their service to the U.S.
Dow first partnered with Honor Flight in Midland, Mich. in 2007, and again in 2008, and during the two flights collectively escorted more than 150 World War II veteran retirees from Dow and more than 70 Dow employee veterans to Washington.
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Dave Rogers
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Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read, respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City. (Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)
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