Orangewood Fund-Raising Drive Gets off the Ground
No luggage was needed for this flight; not even a toothbrush. This flight did not have a destination.
It was the Orangewood Special, an in-flight fund-raiser for the Orangewood children’s home. The up-in-the-air event was conceived by William Bell, who is vice president for corporate and public affairs for AirCal, and coordinated by Bell and James McNamara, senior vice president and chief financial officer of the William Lyon Co.
The Monday morning two-hour flight to nowhere did have live entertainment. Comedian Jason Chase of Santa Ana volunteered his talent and used the plane’s loudspeaker system to broadcast his monologue. Even with a captive audience, Chase only used 20 minutes.
The cost of the flight was underwritten by William Lyon, chairman and chief executive of AirCal. Lyon, not on board but a staunch supporter of Orangewood, directed that all $8,000 netted from ticket sales go to the emergency shelter for abandoned and abused children in Orange.
Eighty passengers, curious to test one of AirCal’s two new British Aerospace BAe-146 series 200 jets, boarded the plane at John Wayne Airport.
“Several companies bought tickets and used them as employee ‘rewards,’ ” said McNamara, explaining the passenger list. “Others are those who responded to invitations.”
The plane, which will be used for short-distance flights, is not equipped with a galley for full meal service. “Gourmet” box lunches were served and accompanied by a BV pinot chardonnay, chosen by Bell and poured by three cabin attendants.
The flight pattern selected by Capt. Keith Thamer took the capacity lunch crowd first north toward Santa Barbara, then south to San Diego before returning to Orange County.
The plane was touted as “the quietest jet airliner in the world” by AirCal spokesman Bell, and Thamer agreed: “The noise-abatement people should be happy with this one.”
The inaugural flight was also a reminder that the fund-raising goal for Orangewood Week (April 12-18) is $100,000.
McNamara, chairman of Orangewood Week, elaborated on some of the week’s activities. “We’re going to sell oranges all week. There will be an orange-peeling contest, plus our main event, the 5K, 10K, kids’ one-mile run and walkers’ and race walkers’ events.” There’s a race, McNamara said, for “anyone who runs, walks or crawls.
“The runs will take place in the Fluor Recreation Park on Saturday, April 12. There will be a pancake breakfast in the park, trophies, T-shirts and other prizes.”
One passenger, Robert Huber, AT&T; vice president of Western region sales, had a full day of flying. After arriving at John Wayne Airport from San Francisco, Huber joined the scenic flight before flying back home. “We encourage our employees to get involved in the community they live in,” Huber said to explain his presence. “AT&T; is on the steering committee (here) for Orangewood Week and I wanted my people to know that by my coming here, I support the community in which they live.”
William Steiner, who will leave his post as director of Orangewood to direct the Orangewood Foundation, also took the flight with two of his children--Scotty, 12, and Marcie, 10--whose tickets were purchased by board member Kathryn Thompson. “The flight is the most unusual fund-raiser we’ve had,” Steiner said.
According to Steiner, private donations provided 80% of the money to build the $8-million facility, dedicated last November.
Oranges for the Great Orangewood A-Peel, can be purchased for any amount from a distribution center that will be set up in front of the facility. “One of our children who was in the old Albert Sitton Home (now Orangewood) came by last year and bought an orange for 50 cents. He’s 20 years old now,” Steiner said.
What is the reward for being the fastest orange peeler in the county? “A sense of accomplishment, being a good sport and basically having a lot of fun while helping a lot of children who can’t fend for themselves,” Steiner said.
