May 23rd, 2024

Hello April,,

What a whirlwind month it's been, Challenge Air family! Between two amazing Fly Days in Chattanooga and Sonoma County, plus our "Aviation" Day in Tyler, we've had kids soaring to new heights and making new friendships across three cities. Not to mention hosting an informative Challenge Air briefing in Spokane. Whew!

But the fun isn't slowing down anytime soon. We've got several more fly days ahead, plus a pickleball tournament coming up in partnership with Chicken n' Pickle in Kansas City. Get those paddles ready!

In just the last few weeks, 130 brave Co-pilots and their families experienced the pure joy and confidence-boosting power of aviation, thanks to the passion and teamwork of our incredible volunteers and pilots. Countless smiles were made and memories crafted.

There's so much more on the horizon, but let's take a moment to celebrate the amazing impact we've had recently! Read on for all the highlights...

If you'd like to help us continue creating these life-changing experiences, please consider making a donation. Your support allows Challenge Air to reach more kids and spread more smiles!



With much appreciation,

April Culver

CEO/ Executive Director

Upcoming Events

Get Ready to Take Flight!

We've got an exciting lineup of fly days coming up. Mark your calendars.

📍 June 15th- Spokane, WA

📍 Sept 7th- Kansas City, MO



📍 Sept 14th - Denver, CO

📍 Oct 12th - Tulsa, OK

Highlights from Chattanooga, Tyler

and Sonoma County

Relive the magic! Check out the latest video recaps to see all the high-flying smiles from recent Fly Days.

Raising Paddles and Funds in Kansas City!

Join us for a pickleball tournament to support Challenge Air for Kids and Friends on Saturday, July 20th.

This event is at Chicken N Pickle in Kansas City (1761 Burlington St, North, Kansas City, MO 64116) from 10 -1pm on Saturday, July 20th.

*20 teams available $75/person, $150/team

*Each player can expect to play 3 games each

*1 1/2 hour round- robin; 1st and 2nd placement/ door prizes

Contact Chris Kirk with questions (816) 729-0846 or April Culver (214) 351-3353.

REGISTER VIA THE LINK BELOW BEFORE JULY 10th. ⬇️

From Co-Pilot to Crew: Meet Macy Bungar!

You may recognize a friendly face at registration next time you fly with us in Tyler - it's Macy Bungar!

This amazing former Challenge Air co-pilot has come full circle after graduating from our program. Macy spent several years soaring as one of our brave co-pilots, but now she's traded in her wings to be part of the ground crew, ensuring every Fly Day runs smoothly. With her contagious smile and go-getter attitude,

Macy exemplifies the incredible spirit of Challenge Air. We're so lucky to have this inspirational alumna giving back and helping create those same life-changing experiences for a new generation of co-pilots!

Gear Up to Give Back

When you buy apparel, a portion of the proceeds goes toward supporting Challenge Air for Kids and Friends!

Look stylish while making a difference! When you shop our collection of branded t-shirts and hats, you're not only scoring awesome apparel - you're helping dreams soar for an amazing cause. Each purchase helps fund future Fly Days, putting more smiles in the skies.



So treat yourself to some new threads and pay it forward at the same time.

Spokane Briefing Uplifts and Inspires

It was an inspiring evening in Spokane last week as Challenge Air gathered for our latest briefing!

With 32 attendees, the room was buzzing with excitement to learn more about our mission. We kicked things off by sharing a few incredible stories from recent Fly Days that had everyone grinning from ear to ear. And of course, the video clip from the Smithsonian Channel was a highlight! The clip showcasing our fearless co-pilots in action reminded us all why we do what we do.

By the time the briefing wrapped up, you could feel the positive energy radiating as our dedicated volunteers left feeling reinvigorated to keep spreading smiles in the skies. It's moments like these that make the Challenge Air community so special.

Prestonwood Rotary's $4,000 Gift Fuels Challenge Air's Mission

Grateful smiles all around as Challenge Air receives a generous donation of $4000 from Prestonwood Rotary! Our founder, Rick Amber, was a member of this club and they have continued to help fulfill Rick's dream!

Thank you for supporting the Challenge Air mission to empower children with disabilities through the magic of aviation.

Together, we're soaring to new heights!

Harley and April Reunited at

Sonoma County Fly Day

Our Sonoma County Fly Day was made even more special with a very important guest - Harley, the courageous pup who embarked on an incredible journey with our fearless leader April Culver.

After spending Harley's first years together through training with the Lone Star Volunteer Chapter of Canine Companions, it was a heartwarming moment as these two brave ladies reunited on the tarmac.

Harley may have moved on to her next chapter, but the unbreakable bond between her and April was on full display. Seeing their reunion was the perfect reminder of the amazing work done by Canine Companions.

We're so grateful Harley could join the Challenge Air family again, making an uplifting day of high-flying smiles even more pawsitively memorable!