CELEBRITY SKI | CELEBRITY GOLF | SUSAN G. KOMEN
It all started in 1986 in a quaint old mining town called Mt. Crested Butte.
Nestled in the mountains of Colorado, this sleepy little ski town played host to the first American Airlines Celebrity Ski Event benefiting the Restoration of the Statue of Liberty.
American Airlines was an official sponsor of the restoration and was looking for various ways to get their employees involved with this patriotic endeavor, while fulfilling their financial commitment. Coincidentally, they had just started new jet service to Gunnison, Colorado, the gateway to Crested Butte Mountain Resort. A group of employees from both the sales and advertising departments joined forces and decided that a ski fundraiser, promoting both efforts, might be a neat way to raise funding for the Statue while highlighting our new service to Crested Butte.
That first event went off without a hitch and a great time was had by all. So much so that American made the decision to turn the event into an annual fundraiser; and because their commitment to the restoration was complete, it would be necessary to find a new cause to partner with.
Building a partnership takes hard work, dedication and a belief in one another. Just as we at American Airlines are dedicated to the concept of providing the highest level of service to our customers, we are just as committed to contributing to the lives of the people we serve and the communities in which we serve them. Because of this dedication, in 1986, after an extensive search of many worthy causes, a most significant partnership began between American Airlines and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. We felt that together we could help make a better life for children suffering with this dreaded disease.
That was 22years ago when we established that belief in one another. Since then, American Airlines, through the Celebrity Ski Event and its volunteer force, has raised over $23 million dollars to help fund research and development at the foundation.
We at American, along with our generous sponsors, have strived to promote and fund the research and development that will lead to an eventual cure. We have all been touched throughout the years by the spirit of the children stricken with this devastating disease. We have watched our CF Ambassadors, Samantha and Libby Pelican and Piper Beatty, share each year in the events and the entertainment, hoping and dreaming of the day that they and others like them will be freed from the confines of CF.
The venues have changed. From Crested Butte, to Squaw Valley, to Breckenridge, and for the past 8 years, Vail. And we'd like to thank each one of these organizations for their priceless support and hospitality in making each year one to remember.
The entertainers and celebrities that have graced each event, donating their time and talents to such a worthwhile cause, are numerous. But each moment taken out of busy schedules has lead to more hope, as well as more dollars to advance the research for a cure.
Some of our sponsors over the years have included: Coca-Cola; VH1; Telepictures-The Rosie O'Donnell Show; Warner Brothers-The Ellen Show; Falcon Communications;Citi Bank; MasterCard International; Cadillac; Multiimage; Minute Maid; FedEx Kinkos; Sports Illustrated; National Car Rental; Regan Ford; Sabre; FAO Schwartz; BMG;The RCA Entertainment Group,; Royal Caribbean International; Oddzon/Koosh; Buchikas Ski Shops; M&M Mars; Toyota; Toshiba; Mitsubishi; Dunham Design; Sharp; GlenGroup; Colgate-Palmolive; Miller Brewing Company; 1-800-Flowers and John Hancock Insurance. To these and many more who have participated, we owe a great deal of gratitude and recognition.
To the many celebrities and entertainers who have shared in this fight, we can never repay their generosity and support. We have been entertained by the likes of: Dan Seals; Roy Orbison; The Allman Brothers; The Bee Gees; Kenny G; Michael Bolton; Smokey Robinson; Carol King; Kenny Loggins; Aaron Neville; BJ Thomas; Roberta Flack; Barry Manilow; Hootie and the Blowfish; Rosie O'Donnell; Seal; Babyface; Luther Vandross and Ace of Base, Gavin DeGraw, The Calling.
We couldn't carry on without the inspiration provided by the hundreds of celebrities and athletes who have brought awareness of the need to find a cure for CF to the forefront. Some of these memorable guests have included: Rosie O'Donnell; Dennis Franz; Grant Goodeve; Wayne Wong; Mike Harvey; Jane Blalock; Jim Sikking; Jim Lonborg; Bob Neumeier; Lynn Herring; Wayne Northrop; Buzz Aldrin; Steve Garvey; Ron Masak; Gordon Clapp; Ken Kimmons; John York; John Sununu; John Havlicek; Gary Collins; Marc McClure; Bill Smitrovich; Richard Cummings; Rod Gilbert; Dee Wallace Stone; Abby Dalton; Barry Nolan; Marilyn Quayle; Rod Gilbert; Dawn Merrick; Sandra Hess, Wendy Maleck, Chris Judd, Jason Priestly and many more.
Today, American Airlines continues to support the efforts of cystic fibrosis research by sponsoring numerous fundraising events throughout the country. And they continue to share in the foundation hopes and dreams that one day this debilitating disease will be cured. We salute the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and its efforts toward obtaining that goal.
