Day In The Sky - Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE SIXTH ANNUAL “DAY IN THE SKY”
Presented by: SHARED ADVENTURES
with “EAA Young Eagle flights” provided by
Experimental Aircraft Association EAA CHAPTER 119

WATSONVILLE AIRPORT SATURDAY April 17, 2010
9:00am-4:00pm

500 children with disabilites & family/frends to Receive Free Airplane Rides

as part of the Watsonville EAA Chapter 119 Young Eagles program

2000+ Visitors to Fifth Annual "Fun Fair & Accessibility Expo"

Shared Adventures of Santa Cruz, CA, and Experimental Aircraft Association EAA Chapter 119 of Watsonville, CA are pleased to announce the fifth annual "Day In The Sky" at the Watsonville Airport, Watsonville, California, Saturday April 17, 2010 9:00am-4:00pm.

Approximately 50 private pilots will provide free, 30 minute airplane rides for 750+ passengers, including 200+ young people with a wide variety of disabilities and special needs, plus family and friends. The airplane rides will pass over points of local interest including the spectacular Santa Cruz County coastline, the historic Beach Boardwalk, and the magnificent springtime Watsonville countryside.

Each participant attends a brief E.A.A. pre-flight school session to learn basic aviation principles before flying. During the flight, each special needs child is encouraged to take the aircraft controls for short periods during the flight to experience the sense of empowerment that comes from controlling an aircraft.

Flights depart from the main terminal of the Watsonville Airport at 100 Aviation Way, Watsonville, CA. First flight is scheduled for 9:30am. Last flight is approximately 4:00 pm.

Young people will be pre-registered through several local partner organizations. Registering partner organizations include: Bay School (Santa Cruz), California Children's Services, Central Coast Kids and Families, Easter Seals Central California, Jacob's Heart Children's Cancer Association, KidQuest, Make A Wish, Manuel Mejia, Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Radcliff Elementary, Santa Cruz County Special Education, Shared Adventures/Young Artists Studio, Special Olympics, Special Parents Information Network (SPIN). Each organization is given a limited number of invitations and assigns them to appropriate participants. Walk-in flights will be given if space permits, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Exhibiting organization include: A Schmahl Science Workshop, ATG Rehab, Alzheimer's Association, American Red Cross Santa Cruz County Chapter, Angel Flight, Angels On Stage, Aspergers Society, Autism Parent Club of San Benito County, Autism Speaks, Bay School, Books Aloud Inc., California Childrens Services-Santa Cruz, California Telephone Access Program, Catalyst for Youth, Central Coast Center for Independent Living, Central Coast Kids & Families, Cisco Girls in Tech, City Year San Jose, City of Watsonville Parks and Community Services Dept., Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (Northern California Chapter), Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, DBSA Palo Alto, Department of Rehabilitation, Dragon Slayers, EMQ Families First - Programs UPLIFT/TBS/RSP, Easter Seals of Central California, FLEISHMAN & WEISMAN P.C., Faces of Hope Charitable Fund, Foundation Fighting Blindness, Friends Outside In Santa Clara County, Home Depot, Home Helpers, Hope Services, Jacob's Heart Children's Cancer Support Services, KidQuest, Magic Makers, Make A Wish, Manuel Mejia, MetDESK, MetLife - Placeholder, Miceli Financial Partners Special Care Planning Team, Mobility Specialist, Monterey Bay Horsemanship & Therapeutic Center, NAMI - National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI Santa Clara County, PVUSD Migrant & Seasonal Head Start, Pacific Advisors, Padres Compartiendo Juntos, Pajaro Valley Prevention & Student Assistance, Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Parents Helping Parents, Radcliff Elementary, Santa Cruz County Special Education, Santa Cruz Skydiving, Shared Adventures, Sheriff's Volunteers, Special Needs Advocates for Understanding (SNAFU), Special Olympics, Special Parents Information Network (SPIN), Spectrum of Science Foundation, Stanford Solar Observatories Group, Tahoe Maps, The Children's Tree House, Therapeutic Golf Clinic, Tuolumne Trails, United Way of Santa Cruz County, Wilco Films - A Pilot's Story, Women's Initiative, Yahoo Girls in Tech

A concurrent 2000+ person free Fun Fair & Science Vocational Opportunity & Accessibility Expo is scheduled, which will feature up to 100 nonprofit groups and vendors of assistive technologies, information from nonprofit organizations, and fun and educational interactive displays. The festival will also include music provided by a local DJ, clowns and face painters, accessible sports equipment demos, visits with live animals, free food and refreshments, and much more.

All event activities are free to participating children, families, friends, volunteers, and pilots. Day In The Sky is fully funded by corporate and private sponsors, vendor contributions, and merchandise sales. Individual and corporate monetary and in-kind donations and sponsorships are needed and are most welcome.

For information, to register as a volunteer or a pilot, or to make a donation, please see the Shared Adventures web site at www.dayinthesky.org or call 831/459-7210.

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Dedications:
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This year's Day in the Sky is dedicated to the memory of Dan White, beloved friend, gentle soul, driven individual, connoisseur of life who enthralled all with his passion for flight. Our hats off to Dan, teacher and rocketman extraordinaire, the pilot who made it happen.

A special nod to Sharon Reeder for her tireless 25 straight year support of all aspects of Central California aviation, and for her contribution in launching Day in the Sky and taking it to cruising altitude. We couldn't have done it without you, Sharon! Many thanks!
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Contacts:
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Foster Andersen, Founder and CEO, Shared Adventures
foster@dayinthesky.org, 831/459-7210

Tom Hail, President E.A.A. 119
thail@sbcglobal.net 831/336-5393

Dean McCully, Day In The Sky
dean@dayinthesky.org, 209/614-4650

Daryl Wise, Shared Adventures, Press
dsw@streetwisepr.com, 831/763-9313

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Host's Information
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Shared Adventures www.sharedadventures.org
Established in 1994, Shared Adventures is a Santa Cruz based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life of people living with disabilities through recreational opportunities. It is the only program in Santa Cruz County that offers a year-round calendar of activities and events for all ages and sectors of the physically and developmentally challenged populations. Shared Adventures is renowned for its annual Day On The Beach, an enormously popular summer event drawing 300+ volunteers and 200+ participants with disabilities to participate in events such as kayaking, SCUBA diving, outrigger canoeing, and beach wheelchair rides. Shared Adventures will host its 18th annual Day On The Beach on Saturday, July 17, 2010.

Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 119 (EAA 119) of Watsonville http://www.eaa119.org
Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 119 of Watsonville flies kids as part of their Young Eagles program. Kids from the general public can fly on the first Saturday of the month May thru November. On April 18 their Young Eagle flights are reserved for kids with disabilities and special needs. This will be the fifth year EAA Chapter 199 has flown kids at Day in the Sky. The Young Eagles program is a national EAA program that has flown over 1.2 million kids and Chapter 119 has flown 4,100 at Watsonville since 1992.