Questions & Answers:
What is the name of a charitable organization serving humanity around the world through aviation?
Wings of Hope
What is Wings of Hope?
Wings of Hope, Inc. is a non sectarian, humanitarian organization dedicated to helping needy people around the world through aviation and communication services. Through these services, medical aid, disaster relief, education, and other development needs are brought to some of the poorest people in the world including those living in remote or isolated regions.
What does Wings of Hope actually do?
Wings of Hope maintains a working aviation maintenance, repair and modification facility that also serves as World Headquarters. Donated or purchased aircraft in various conditions (many are not flyable) are returned to operational service by the dedicated service of highly skilled volunteers. Aircraft are also ferried to their ultimate organization and destination by Wings of Hope. Procurement services, consulting services in technical and operational areas and specialized training of pilots and mechanics are also provided. In addition, Wings of Hope operates aircraft in Central America for humanitarian purposes.
Does Wings of Hope work with other organizations?
Wings of Hope works with many humanitarian organizations in need of aviation and communication services. This cooperation has lead to the building of “bridges” and coalitions to serve those in need regardless of sectarian affiliation. The groups with which Wings of Hope has worked covers a wide spectrum of health, relief, mission, education, and development agencies world-wide.
Who does Wings of Hope help?
Since 1965, people in Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, New Guinea, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Tanzania, Zaire, Zimbabwe, as well as the United States, have benefited from humanitarian aid provided by many organizations with the help of the enabling services of Wings of Hope. The need is great and Wings of Hope has a formalized process to screen organizations requesting services.
Who are the people with Wings of Hope?
Wings of Hope has three paid employees – two are experienced “bush” pilots and qualified A&P mechanics, the third is an administrative person. We consist almost entirely of volunteers, business and professional people who are committed to the idea of serving humanity through aviation. Some help refurbish airplanes, some ferry aircraft to remote areas of the world or serve as pilots/mechanics in “bush” operations, and some serve in administrative roles including fund raising. Each participates from a very private base. Knowing that they are helping those in need and their love of airplanes is their compensation. Perhaps no single statement better represents the Wings of Hope spirit than “Brotherhood Spreads on the Wings of Hope”.
Where is Wings of Hope and how did it begin?
Wings of Hope was born in 1962 in the hearts of a few St. Louis business and professional people when they were confronted with the needs of a medical mission group serving in the Turkana Desert of northwest Kenya, East Africa. Friends were enlisted, money was raised and a six place Cessna Skywagon was dispatched for field service there in April 1965.
The word spread and other humanitarian groups around the world sought aviation support. The one airplane project became Wings of Hope with headquarters in St. Louis, MO. Humanitarian programs benefiting people around the world have been helped by the many volunteers who donated their time and skills to prepare over 100 aircraft and provide other aviation and communication services enabling various medical, missionary, relief, and other organizations in their work.
ENDORSED BY LEADING AMERICANS
HONORARY COUNCIL
- SANFORD N. MCDONNELL
Chairman, HONORARY COUNCIL
Chairman Emeritus, McDonnell Douglas Corporation - JOHN L. BAKER
Retired President, AOPA - GERALD R. FORD
Former President, United States of America - BARRY GOLDWATER
Former U.S. Senator from Arizona - Reverend BILLY GRAHAM
Evangelist - Bishop LEROY C. HODAPP
Bishop of Indiana
President of the Council of Bishops
United Methodist Church - BOB and DOLORES HOPE
Entertainer, Humanitarians - STAN MUSIAL
Member Baseball Hall of Fame
Hotelier and Humanitarian - JOYCE S. PILLSBURY
Chairman of the Board, Missouri Baptist Hospital - Father PAUL C. REINERT, SJ
Chancellor Emeritus, St. Louis University - Most Reverend JUSTIN RIGALI
Archbishop of St. Louis - ALAN K. SIMPSON
Former Senator from Wyoming - Lt. Gen. TOM STAFFORD
Former Astronaut - Mrs. HENRY H. TIMKEN, JR.
Humanitarian - Brig. Gen, CHUCK YEAGER
Test Pilot, Author
MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to enable worthwhile humanitarian endeavors, in remote areas, become more effective where the utilization of aviation is vital to meet transportation needs.
- Volunteer Driven
- Non-Sectarian
- Non-Political
Your Tax Deductible Donation Will Make a Difference
- Aircraft
- Equipment
- Membership
Wings of Hope, Inc.
18590 Edison Avenue
Chesterfield, MO 63005
Maintenance Center
Spirit of St. Louis Airport
Phone 314-537-1302
Fax 314-537-3139
E-mail: woh206@earthlink.net