As a result of our first furloughs beginning shortly after 9/11, the TWA flight attendants have suffered the most. Our first casualty began with Laura Lohrman, which was an apparent suicide due to the loss of her beloved career and financial issues that she could no longer deal with and no place to go for help. We certainly did not want this to happen again.
It was during that time that Nancy McGuire came up with the idea of WE-CARE where we could be a source for help when in despair. I volunteered to assist in this project as the treasurer and maintain the funds in a bank account specifically for this cause. The WE-CARE account was opened October 10, 2003. With the amazing group of TWA flight attendants we instantly received the outpouring of support for WE-CARE . Donations were coming in and fund raisers were being held. The numerous requests for financial assistance and advice were continuous. Our phones were ringing all day and night for help.
Some examples of assistance: Requests for utility bills to be paid, child care, medical issues, rent money, mortgage assistance, education. Nancy was also able to assist in giving our flight attendants important information in regards to government and social services and who to contact.
To this day we continue to be a support system for our colleagues. I have worked on getting WE-CARE to be a tax exempt organization <501C-3>. This project has taken us about two years to complete. All past and future donations are tax deductible.. We recently were able to receive a grant for $5000.00 because we are a recognized charity.
All of you should be very proud of WE-CARE. Without your help we would not be able to assist our colleagues. My hope is that in the future we can expand this organization to include other airlines who may not have a system in place if there is a Chapter 7 as was the case with Eastern Airlines, Pan American and Braniff. However this will be a future project that needs to be discussed with you. We are always open to ideas for fund raising and we are always available to assist YOU.
In closing, we all have been through so much in the past five years. But one thing we have not lost since American Airlines furloughed us, is our caring about each other and our dignity. We should all be proud that we are the most compassionate group in our industry.
Miles Gauntt
WE-CARE RESOURCES TREASURER
It was during that time that Nancy McGuire came up with the idea of WE-CARE where we could be a source for help when in despair. I volunteered to assist in this project as the treasurer and maintain the funds in a bank account specifically for this cause. The WE-CARE account was opened October 10, 2003. With the amazing group of TWA flight attendants we instantly received the outpouring of support for WE-CARE . Donations were coming in and fund raisers were being held. The numerous requests for financial assistance and advice were continuous. Our phones were ringing all day and night for help.
Some examples of assistance: Requests for utility bills to be paid, child care, medical issues, rent money, mortgage assistance, education. Nancy was also able to assist in giving our flight attendants important information in regards to government and social services and who to contact.
To this day we continue to be a support system for our colleagues. I have worked on getting WE-CARE to be a tax exempt organization <501C-3>. This project has taken us about two years to complete. All past and future donations are tax deductible.. We recently were able to receive a grant for $5000.00 because we are a recognized charity.
All of you should be very proud of WE-CARE. Without your help we would not be able to assist our colleagues. My hope is that in the future we can expand this organization to include other airlines who may not have a system in place if there is a Chapter 7 as was the case with Eastern Airlines, Pan American and Braniff. However this will be a future project that needs to be discussed with you. We are always open to ideas for fund raising and we are always available to assist YOU.
In closing, we all have been through so much in the past five years. But one thing we have not lost since American Airlines furloughed us, is our caring about each other and our dignity. We should all be proud that we are the most compassionate group in our industry.
Miles Gauntt
WE-CARE RESOURCES TREASURER
