Greetings!
After 10 years of service on the Board of Trustees of Challenge Air, the last 6 years of which were served as the President of the Board, please know that my last day as an Officer and Board Member will be December 31, 2021. Thus, my term is almost up. I cannot stay any longer. I’m about to ride off into the distant sunset on my horse named Giddy Up and Go.
Looking back at the progress the organization has made, it’s been a journey that anyone would love to travel. Challenge Air continues to improve every year. The changes have been many, all of which were positive and beneficial.
The Executive Director, the Staff, my fellow Board Members, our donors, our sponsors, our pilots, and those wonderful children to which we all serve and belong, have given me so much hope and terrific lasting memories. I can’t think of anything else I would rather have done than to be with you.
Keep up the good work, keep supporting Challenge Air, and please welcome the new President, Kris Lonborg.
So, I will see you later as I wish you well, and as I remain truly yours…
Griffin Collie
2013-2021, Board President 2016-2021
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"The biggest happiness is when at the end of the year you feel better than at the beginning."
-Henry David Thoreau
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Meet the NEW Board Members |
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Kris Lonborg, Incoming Board President |
Kris Lonborg has served on the Challenge Air for Kids and Friends Board of Trustees for two years.
He has served as a pilot in several fly days since 2017. He retired from Ernst & Young’s Advisory practice in 2020.
Beyond flying he enjoys pickleball, motorcycling, boating, golf and Crossfit. He and his wife Kathy have a son Mason and daughter Mattie, both in their 20’s.
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"I was intrigued with the military as far back as I can remember and I’ve been on the same trajectory almost as long. Back in high school, my Dad’s childhood friend, Rick “Bear” Amber (and Navy Fighter Pilot), helped get me on this path by encouraging me to be my best and help others find theirs too."
After college, Mike accepted Bear’s challenge and joined the United States Marine Corps because he wanted to serve others before himself and keep challenging those around him to better versions of themselves.
What he didn’t know at the time was how incredible the journey was going to be. Mike has lived coast to coast. He and his wife have two children. Mike currently runs the ROTC program at Allen High School in Allen, TX.
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Lizeth has been an active member of the community since 2009 through National and Texas PTA, local and Frisco Independent School District (ISD) Council of PTAs, and as a member of the Transition Advisor Group and the first Parent Ambassadors for Special Education Committee within Frisco ISD.
She has been an avid advocate for children with disabilities. She is constantly striving to promote awareness and help others see that children with different abilities can accomplish tremendous feats with the proper support. She has also lent her business, linguistic, and customer service expertise to all her volunteer efforts. As a native of Mexico, Lizeth is keenly aware of individuals who are not native to the United States. She brings a diversity of thought and a voice of our Latino community to the conversation.
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We are grateful for you, the Challenge Air community for continued support in our mission, building confidence and self esteem in children with special needs through the gift of flight.
Our Fly Day events are not over. If you would like to continue supporting our efforts, there is still time to give.
We are always in need of monetary donations to get our Fly Day events off the ground, literally. These life-changing events are offered at absolutely NO COST to our families and are made possible through the generosity of our donors, corporate sponsors, volunteers and pilots.
You can change the way a child sees their disability by lifting their spirits and encouraging them to believe in themselves. All it takes is a donation.
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Next Stop... Fort Lauderdale, FL |
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Challenge Air is excited to announce we will be back in the Fort Lauderdale area on Saturday, January 29th, 2022. Hosted at a NEW LOCATION at Northside FXE Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport 1700 NE 62nd Street!
Pilots, volunteers and families who have children between the ages of 7-21 can sign up below.
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It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! |
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“You can tell a lot about a person by the way they handle three things: a rainy day, lost luggage and tangled Christmas tree lights."😊- (Mayo Angelo) ...and when someone gives from the heart. ❤️
The Challenge Air team would like to thank our pilots and volunteers for giving their gifts of time this past year.. and oh what a year it was.
Thanks for continuing to show up and be there for our kiddos!
We wish you all a happy holiday season!
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Meet Co-Pilot Oliver
"This was such an amazing opportunity for Oliver and his brothers.
Oliver has Autism and Sensory Processing Disorder.
This was the perfect experience for him."
- Tammy M
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"Thank you to all the amazing Pilots who donated their plane and time & all the amazing volunteers. My son said "I've never felt so free" after his Co-Pilot experience! Thank you, thank you, thank you"
- a very grateful mom
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Let's Be Social
#Givekidswings
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