FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Local Aviators Along with Lockheed Martin Raise Money for Colorado COVID Relief Fund and to Support Essential Workers
It’s not just a flyover, it’s a fundraiser
PRESS RELEASE: DENVER, CO. – May 8, 2020 – In collaboration with Colorado Governor, Jared Polis and Mile High United Way, a group of local aviators will donate their time and resources to raise money and awareness for the Help Colorado Now program through a Flyover Fundraising Parade and Aerial Salute to essential workers.
With a generous $500,000 challenge match from Lockheed Martin, the aerial event hopes to inspire donations and challenge other individuals and corporations to come together as we continue to support those most impacted by COVID-19. This aerial parade of more than 30 aircraft is scheduled to take flight Thursday, May 14, 2020 from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. in the skies above the Denver Metro Area. Organizers encourage people to watch from their homes and always follow social distancing public health guidelines.
The squadron of planes will take off from Rocky Mountain Metro Airport in Broomfield and loop the Denver Metro Area Front Range, from Longmont to Castle Rock, as both a salute to essential workers and a fundraising awareness platform for the Colorado COVID Relief Fund. All donations made to the fund will support Colorado communities impacted by COVID-19. Hosted by Mile High United Way, the Colorado COVID Relief Fund is part of the State’s Help Colorado Now initiative. Donations can be made at www.HelpColoradoNow.org.
This collaborative effort among fellow airmen was born out of a desire to help the capable doctors, nurses and first responders who battle COVID-19 daily, and also the essential workers including janitors, grocery store clerks, sanitation workers, delivery personnel and the other unsung heroes that selflessly work daily to ensure communities have access to essential services and goods. These pilots, mechanics and ground crews have donated their time and talents, fuel and maintenance costs, equipment and resources (including the airshow smoke utilized), to raise awareness and funds to support the Help Colorado Now program.
Fourth generation Colorado native and Metropolitan State University graduate Scott McMillan is leading the effort. With extensive experience in the airline industry and in the production of air shows, McMillan, currently on the management team at United Airlines, brought together more than 30 aircraft from the Colorado Air Show community to participate in the aerial fundraising parade and secured support from the International Council of Airshows (ICAS). Creative Strategies Group, a Denver-based experiential marketing agency brokered the strategic partnerships and is managing all promotions and communications for the project.
“Lockheed Martin and our more than 10,000 employees who call Colorado home are committed to doing what’s right and helping Coloradans in need during these unprecedented times,” said Rick Ambrose, Executive Vice President of Lockheed Martin Space. “Across the state, we’re manufacturing personal protective equipment for healthcare workers, contributing to school districts for distance learning, and now we’re proud to initiate this match challenge. We invite Coloradans to join us in supporting Help Colorado Now.”
The planes in this aerial fundraising parade will vary in type, style and speed ranging from small jets to propeller planes. They are all Civilian Aircraft and most planes are former Military Aircraft known as “Warbirds.” The others are civilian Air Show aerobatic aircraft. Aircraft will fly together in formation groupings organized by speed while traversing the Metro area. From their homes, viewers will see three to four total groups of planes fly overhead at approximately 150 miles per hour (compared to the United States Air Force Thunderbird flyover which happened at about 500 miles per hour).
The flight path – found here – includes flyovers of major area hospitals from Longmont to Castle Rock as well as Columbine High School, the Castle Rock Star, Civic Center Park, Stapleton, Buckley Air Force Base, Southlands Mall, Lowery, Thornton Town Center and Longmont and Niwot High Schools. Organizers encourage people to watch from home and always follow social distancing public health guidelines.
The first group of planes takes off from the Rocky Mountain Metro Airport in Broomfield at 11:30 a.m., heading south along the front range to the Castle Rock star before turning back north and northeast to complete the aerial parade by 1 p.m. Organizers estimate that approximately 1 million people along this route will be able to view this salute from their homes and consider making a donation to HelpColoradoNow.org.
HIGHLY VISUAL PHOTO OPs:
Organizers recommend several locations for media to capture the best angles. All times are approximate based on actual departure times and winds.:
- 10:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.- Rocky Mountain Metro Airport
- Interviews with pilots, closeups of planes and take offs
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- 11:35 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. – Stanley Lake Reservoir
- Planes get into formation in the sky
- Recommended Aerial Display Media Photographer Locations:
- 11:30 a.m. & 11:50 a.m. – Lutheran Medical Center
- 11:35 a.m. & 11:55 a.m. – Denver Federal Center near 6th & Kipling
- 11:35 a.m. & 11:45 a.m. – Columbine High School
- 11:40 a.m. & 12:00 p.m. – Castle Rock Star
- 11:40 a.m. & 12:05 p.m. – Parker Football Stadium
- 11:50 a.m. & 12:10 p.m. – Denver Health
- 11:53 a.m. & 12:12 p.m. – Anschutz Medical Campus
- 11:56 a.m. & 12:20 p.m. – Southlands Mall
- 12:05 p.m. & 12:35 p.m. – Longmont H.S.
- 12:10 p.m. & 12:45 p.m. – CU Boulder
- 12:15 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. – Rocky Mountain Metro Airport
- Planes return, post flight interviews.
AVAILABLE ASSETS (Click HERE to access):
- Interviews available upon request with Organizers and pilots before and after the Aerial Fundraising Parade.
- Complete list of all aircraft involved
- High resolution photos of airplanes- please credit: Colorado Aviation Photography.
- Digital graphics packages with event logo, flight path map & web tiles
- Teaser video
- Broadcast quality b-roll of the Aerial Fundraising Parade will be available upon request for use as needed following the aerial parade.
Please use the hashtag #DoingMyPartCO
The Colorado COVID Relief Fund’s purpose is to raise, and coordinate allocation of funds based on prevention, impact and recovery needs of community-based organizations in Colorado. This Fund is organized to ensure that the most acute community needs across the state are being addressed and that community voice is reflected in all funding decisions made over time. Through this Fund, eligible community-based organizations across Colorado may receive a general operating grant of up to $25,000.
Organizers want to recognize and thank the many Colorado based companies, especially Lockheed Martin, that have donated their time, services, equipment, resources and talents to make this Aerial Fundraiser Parade to Support Frontline Heroes a reality.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 110,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.
#DoingMyPartCO
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