Midwest Honor Flight is preparing fundraising rounds for their Fall flights this year.
The organization charters flights for veterans to Washington DC to see their memorial and then flies them back home to a hero’s welcome at the airport.
Funding and Experience
There were three total flights this Spring, all entirely funded by grants and donations from foundations like Lyon County Riverboat, Seed for Success, and the Clifford and LaVonne Graese Foundation. Midwest Honor Flight charters a 737-style plane through JetBlue to accommodate all the veterans who sign up. The flight is a nonstop flight from Sioux Falls to Reagan National Airport in DC. Each flight costs over $200,000 to charter. Aaron Van Beek, Founder and CEO of the organization, lays out what the cost includes.
Van Beek describes the experience veterans receive from the trip.
During the Spring flights, there were 252 veterans honored, while 2,600 veterans have been honored since Midwest Honor Flight was founded.
Fundraisers and Events
The organization has multiple fundraising events planned this year, the first one is today at Culver’s. They will receive 10% of the proceeds. 94% of donations Midwest Honor Flight receives goes directly to their mission. Here are the upcoming Events and Fundraisers:
- June 16 at Culvers – They receive 10% of proceeds
- July 18 and 19 – They will be at the Sioux Falls Airshow
- September 11 Golf tournament at Landsmeer – Fundraising event
The Fall flights this year are scheduled for September 22 and September 29. You can find more information by visiting their website Here.
