Ninety-Nines Toy Airlift – 2015

The Virginia Chapter of the Ninety Nines held their eight annual Toy Airlift at Richmond Executive Airport (KFCI) on Saturday, December 12, 2015. The event is held to benefit Holiday Helpers at Ft. Lee. This organization helps to provide toys to children of soldiers who are seriously injured or who otherwise are experiencing serious financial hardship. The chapter also collects personal items and clothing for our injured veterans at McGuire,VA hospital.

The Toy Airlift was a huge success. The latest count shows we collected 676 toys and 631 personal care items and clothing for the veterans.

Soldiers from Fort Lee were there to receive gifts flown in by pilots from all over the state of Virginia.  Ninety Nines chapters from Hampton Roads, Old Dominion and Eastern Pennsylvania also flew in planes full of gifts.  There was a total of 14 planes involved in the toy airlift throughout the day.

Chesterfield County children and their parents arrived for Santa’s grand entrance. Santa flew in on his plane, the “North Pole Polar Express.” Santa was available to meet and talk with the children and receive the gifts they brought.

Other local Chesterfield residents drove in with their generous donations which included bicycles.

Christmas music was provided throughout the day by the Manchester H.S. choral students directed by Robyn Kim and the Bon Air Strings directed by Randy Allen.

The Virginia Chapter of the Ninety Nines wishes to thank Chesterfield County public relations, the Richmond Executive airport staff, Dominion Aviation’s staff and line service, Kings Korner and the Virginia Department of Aviation. Everyone generously provided their time and assistance in helping us put on another successful event. Dominion Aviation also offered fuel discounts for the pilots involved with the toy airlift. We also wish to thank Manchester High School and the Bon Air Strings for their wonderful performances.

We look forward to doing it all again in 2016.

Sincerely,

The Virginia Chapter of the Ninety Nines

Here are pictures from the event: