About Wings of Mercy
In 1995, Cody Welch, an airline pilot living in Midland, MI,
incorporated a not-for profit corporation whose charter and mission
was to provide free air transportation in general aviation aircraft
to and from major medical centers for financially challenged and
medically qualified individuals requiring transportation to distant
medical centers for treatment of unique conditions not available in
East Michigan. The name of the organization was Mid-Michigan Medical
Mercy Flights, Inc. (MMMMFI)
In the process of approaching Foundations for seed money, MMMMFI
discovered another organization with a similar mission which had
been operating since 1991 under the name Wings of Mercy, Inc. in
Holland, MI. Their Founder and President, Peter VandenBosch, soon
suggested that MMMMFI’s Board consider becoming an independent
chapter of Wings of Mercy in order to increase service to more
Michigan residents. In early 1996 an agreement was reached and
MMMMFI changed its name to Wings of Mercy East Michigan, Inc.
Wings of Mercy East Michigan, Inc. has continued to grow since the first patient flight in July of 1996. We have passed several milestones after that first mission to return a heart transplant patient from the Mayo Clinic. We have seen 500 Missions, 1000 Missions, 1,000,000 Miles, 1500 Missions, and we are still growing. We have formed a long term alliance with another organization, Volunteer Mercy Pilots in Lansing, MI to further increase our outreach.
We make an immeasurable difference for our family of
over 275 Recipients. Scores have told us that without this
service they would not have found life saving treatment. Wings of
Mercy levels the playing field, giving the gift of
transportation to those who otherwise might not be able to take
advantage of distant medical care. Based
on experience, upwards of 80% of our clients would not be able to
receive specialized medical treatment if our service was not
availa
ble.
The most frequent destination for our flights is the Mayo Clinic in
Rochester, MN. The second most frequent destination is the
University of Wisconsin in Madison. Together, these two destinations
have and continue to account for 65% of our flights. In addition we
have flown to St Jude’s in Memphis, Duke Medical Center in Durham,
Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Boston Children's Hospital, McGill
University Health Care Centre in Montreal, Quebec, National
Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Cancer Treatment Centers of
America in Waukegon, IL, University of Pittsburg, University of
Minnesota, Cleveland Clinic, and Sloan Kettering in New York City,
We have served over 119 East Michigan communities from Lansing to
Cheboygan to Alpena to East Tawas to Bad Axe, Port Huron, Detroit,
Ann Arbor, Howell and Flint. Our unique service allows us to access
nearby community airports that further eases the logistics of travel
for our Recipients.
How it Works
Wings of Mercy is not a Charter company, nor an FAA Certified Air
Carrier. We are not an air ambulance. Wings of Mercy does not
compete with commercial airlines, which our patients/clients cannot
afford, or with air ambulance services, which are reserved for the
more critically. Rather, we are Private Pilots operating under the
General Flight Rules of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR Part
91). We are essentially no different than one who gives a ride to a
hospital in their personal car, except we travel 500 miles in 2-3
hours. The use of our aircraft is donated by generous owners and
normally flown by those individuals. We ask our pilots to
exceed the FAA standards whenever possible. For example, we always
fly with a second pilot even though our planes are certified for
single pilot operations. We have been blessed with over 100
different aircraft and in excess of 300 pilots who have participated
in these flights.
Wings of Mercy East Michigan is funded entirely by charitable
contributions
from Individuals, Corporations, Foundations, and Churches. These
donors are as important as the pilots who fly the planes and the
volunteers who set up the missions. In other words, we are a team
of dedicated people from different walks of life who thrive on
helping others. We have no paid staff. We are an IRS
recognized 501(c)(3) Not for Profit Michigan Corporation in good
standing.
A Successful Team
Currently, there are three Wings of Mercy chapters in the United States. They include:
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Wings of Mercy Eastern Michigan, and
Missions Map
View Wings of Mercy East Michigan in a larger map
What We've Done--Summary of Missions
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Michigan Communities Served by Wings of Mercy East Michigan
Wings of Mercy East Michigan serves an area of approximately 5000 square miles, including the following Michigan communities:
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Alger
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Alpena
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Apple Gate
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Bad Axe
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Birch Run
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Caro
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Caseville
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Cheboygan
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Clare
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Clio
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Coleman
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Croswell
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Davison
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Elsie
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Essexville
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Fraser
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Freeland
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Gladwin
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Glennie
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Goodrich
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Hale
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Harrisville
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Kawkawlin
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Laingsburg
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Linwood
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Mio
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New Lothrop
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Onaway
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Otisville
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Perry
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Pinconning
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Reese
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Rochester Hills
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Romeo
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Standish
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Waters
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Weidman
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West Branch