NEW YORK, Feb. 2, 2018 – Wheels Up, the fastest growing membership-based private aviation company, announces that its WHEELS UP CARES philanthropic initiative will recognize February’s American Heart Month with a new signature King Air 350i airplane, with a unique red livery, manufactured by Wheels Up partner Textron Aviation, in support of the American Heart Association’s Life Is Why We Give™ fundraising campaign (www.heart.org/lifeiswhywegive) and Simon’s Heart (www.simonsheart.org), an organization dedicated to raising awareness about the warning signs and conditions that lead to sudden cardiac arrest and death in kids.
Wheels Up will donate a portion of its new membership fees for February 2018 to both organizations and all pilots flying Wheels Up planes will wear red lapel pins and ties throughout the month in support of the campaign. The red King Air 350i will remain in the fleet on an ongoing basis to serve as a reminder about the importance of cardiovascular health.
“WHEELS UP CARES is our way of connecting with philanthropic initiatives that matter to our company, Members, families and friends,” said Kenny Dichter, Founder and CEO, Wheels Up. “The three aircraft in the program are flying symbols of these charities’ important missions and we are proud to align with the American Heart Association and Simon’s Heart.”
“The American Heart Association is committed to fighting heart disease and stroke and improving the quality of life for all Americans,” said American Heart Association Board Chairman James Postl. “Our work would not be possible without the generous support of committed companies like these who provide donation opportunities to their customers. These corporate citizens provide a force multiplying impact to our work and help us get ever closer to a world without needless suffering or death.”
“We are honored to be recognized by a premier brand like Wheels Up and to join the worthy causes in the WHEELS UP CARES family,” said Darren Sudman, CEO, Simon’s Heart. “This generous contribution will ensure that we can continue protecting hearts and saving lives.”
Dichter also announced that Wheels Up partner, Kwiat, and Member and Ambassador, Karl Ravech, host of ESPN’s Baseball Tonight, would participate in the company’s initiative.
Kwiat, the 110 year-old diamond jewelry house, will donate a portion of proceeds from its collection of diamond heart pendants, designed exclusively for the cause, to the American Heart Association and Simon’s Heart during the month of February 2018. The pendants are available for purchase at www.kwiat.com/American-heart-association-pendant-necklace.
“As a Wheels Up Member and former heart attack victim myself, I am abundantly proud to support the fight against heart disease,” said Ravech, who suffered a heart attack at the age of 33. “Thank you, Wheels Up, for your contribution to the critical and inspiring work being done by the American Heart Association and Simon’s Heart to save lives.”
Along with the red plane and the American Heart Association and Simon’s Heart, WHEELS UP CARES recognizes Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in September with its Teal Plane in support of the Janet Burros Memorial Foundation and the Pink Plane representing the company’s ongoing commitment to the Dubin Breast Center of The Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai in New York City.