Chili Cookoff participants included (L to R) Josh Deyarmin, James Parish and Jayanne Sindt. Ten employees contributed chili; several others donated sides and specialties.
Can You Sponsor or Donate Prizes for our Next Campaign? Email Kaley at KMiller@FlyPGD.com for more info!
Aviation Gives Back Campaign Benefits Local United Way
Punta Gorda, FL (April 5, 2023) – The Charlotte County Airport Authority (CCAA) is pleased to announce it raised $3,150 during its first annual Aviation Gives Back Campaign to support the United Way of Charlotte County (UWCC).
The employee-led campaign included a chili cookoff fundraiser in February, a celebratory BBQ, and a chance auction drawing in March. While most of the donations were contributed by CCAA employees, Airport Authority Commissioners and airport tenants also made personal contributions to make the campaign a success.
Corporate contributors to the chance auction prizes included Allegiant Travel, Smugglers Enterprises, Michael Baker International and Titan Aviation.
“This was a great way for us to aid the UWCC’s mission of ending the cycle of poverty in Charlotte County, while also hosting fun employee engagement activities,” said PGD’s CEO James W. Parish. “In turn, we know that UWCC is here to support all the on-airport employees that may be struggling to meet basic needs and support their own families.”
The airport’s inaugural Aviation Gives Back was planned to kick off in September 2022, however, Hurricane Ian delayed its launch and dampened its fundraising efforts. Two of CCAA’s corporate partners, AECOM and Michael Baker International, stepped up in October 2022 to make contributions exceeding $3,500 to the United at Work Hurricane Ian Response Fund. Those contributions strengthened the local workforce and helped six CCAA employees, along with 350+ other local employees, with much needed stop-gap funds for rent, mortgage, utilities, etc.
“I’d like to thank all our employees and partners that donated their hard-earned money, time and effort to make this inaugural campaign a success! We hope to engage additional airport partners and tenants for our next campaign, so we can collectively increase our positive impact even more,” said Parish.
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Employees and tenants alike enjoyed Big Geroy’s BBQ, specialty desserts and the chance auction prize drawing.
