Angel Flight East, a Blue Bell-based nonprofit that provides free flights to those who need medical treatment far from home, is hosting its largest fundraiser of the year on March 28. The 16th annual On Angels’ Wings Gala serves as an opportunity for AFE to honor pilots and other accomplished individuals, hear stories of the organization’s positive impact, and raise funds to support their mission.

Awards are a primary part of the gala. Kley Parkhurst will receive the Pilot of the Year award for his volunteer work flying not only patients but also pets and supplies for causes such as hurricane relief. Derek Horst, an employee on an egg farm in Lancaster, will be named the Rookie Pilot of the Year. Lastly, Paul C. Heintz will be given the Vista Award for his service, leadership, and dedication to the community.

Heintz is an aviation enthusiast of over 60 years as well as a lawyer with Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP. He has served on the boards of plenty of prestigious organizations, including the Franklin Institute, where he chaired the Aviation Hall Committee; the founding board of the National Constitution Center; and the Lower Merion School Board, where he served as president for three years. 

Most notably, Heintz played a pivotal role in saving AFE’s headquarters, Wings Field, from becoming a housing development about 25 years ago. Along with the late Dr. Bob Driscoll, Heintz spearheaded the formation of a group called the Wings Field Preservation Associates (WFPA) and raised enough funding to buy the airport.

According to Ellen Williams, executive director of AFE, when Heintz was notified that he would receive the Vista Award, he brought up that he had never flown for Angel Flight East. Williams assuaged his concerns.

“I said, ‘That may be true, but we exist and are able to provide our services because of general aviation pilots,’” Williams said. “That is what your life’s work in a volunteer capacity has been about. So it is a perfect tie-in with Angel Flight East and charitable aviation.”

In addition to the honorees, guests will hear from a speaker who directly benefitted from Angel Flight East’s services. Michael Henricks, a detective from Blue Bell, used AFE to fly his young daughter to Boston for a medical operation. The organization saved his family not just time, but, most importantly, the life of his daughter.

Anyone looking to give financially – even if they are not attending the gala – will have the opportunity to bid on exclusive items during two auctions. The silent auction will go live on angelflighteast.org on Friday, March 14, and last until 9 p.m. on the night of the gala. There will also be a live auction during the celebration.

Auction items include prizes such as a signed Jalen Hurts jersey as well as a slew of experiences. One such exclusive experience is the opportunity to work with Brian Lipstein, the president of the tailoring company Henry A. Davidsen, to create a custom piece of men’s clothing. Other items are a package at the Mann Center to see a show, Diamond Club tickets for the Phillies, a free window cleaning, discovery flights for those interested in learning more about aviation, and tickets to a Cabaret Series event at the Rittenhouse Grill, which includes dinner and a musical performance. 

Mark and Catherine Haas of Blue Bell are this year’s event co-chairs, assigned with raising the funds for the gala, securing sponsorship and auction items, and selling tickets. Approximately 250 people are expected to attend.

Williams says one of her favorite aspects of the evening is having guests hear the powerful stories that she gets to hear every day.

“For an Angel Flight, the pilot is donating their plane, their fuel, and their time, simply to get people to medical care that they probably wouldn’t get to otherwise,” Williams said. “I’m excited particularly for people that are new to us to hear that story.”

The On Angels’ Wings Gala will be 6 to 10 p.m. on March 28 at the Presidential Caterers Wedding and Event Venue in Norristown. Tickets are currently on sale at angelflighteast.org.