“North Pole” Flight Leaves From Islip Airport
Southwest Airlines Sponsors Charity for Ronald McDonald House
Long Island Press News Staff 12/04/2005 2:10 pm
About 50 children who reside in Manhattan’s Ronald McDonald House boarded Southwest Flight 2968 from Islip MacArthur Airport destined for The North Pole on Dec. 3, so they could hand deliver their letters to Santa Claus.
On board, flight attendants dressed as elves and reindeer led the children and their parents in singing carols on the 45 minute trip. The sentiment expressed from those who volunteered their time was all alike: the weeks of planning and time devoted to organizing this was worth it to provide a night of unparalleled entertainment for the children.
"This is by far one of the grandest events we’ve ever done," says Ralph Vogul, a director at the Ronald McDonald House (RMDH) on East 73rd Street. "That’s why we’re here, for the kids."
RMDH provides "a home away from home" for children who are receiving cancer treatment at nearby hospitals. The Manhattan branch - the largest in the network with room for 85 families–provides not only a place to sleep, but plenty of entertainment for the kids who are staying there, many of whom are being treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Families from across the country and even the world have stayed in this particular house.
Southwest Airlines Pilot Steve Simon, who volunteers at RMDH, first pitched the idea to his employers several months ago. Once the enthusiastic approval came from corporate headquarters, he was amazed at how fast the coordination between local and federal government as well as the countless volunteers all came together. They even insisted on garnering one of the Boeing 737s in their fleet that is painted to look like Shamu the Whale.
The children’s parents had nothing but praise for the organizers. Paul Reardon of Groveland, Mass. says the flight cheered up his 6-year-old son Ryan faster than a speeding sleigh. The night "made a lot of happy kids," Reardon says.
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