Event Recap
Raffle Winner Never Thought He’d Win a Plane
Scott Neville learned to fly in Australia before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he took advantage of three major airports as a recreational pilot. “It was a lot of fun,” said Scott. But since he moved to…Pulling for Hope Is New Fall Tradition
When it comes to fall traditions, pulling a giant plane ranks right up there with watching football and picking apples — at least for the 16 teams (five more than in 2024!) that participated in Wings of Hope’s 3rd Annual…Sky High Soirée Inspires in Wings of Hope Hangar
April marked a new era for Wings of Hope’s annual spring fundraiser. For the first time ever, we held it in the Wings of Hope hangar — the perfect venue to showcase our mission and immerse our supporters in our…Airplane Raffle Winner Has Plans for Plane
When Jared received a phone call from Wings of Hope with the news that he had won our spring airplane raffle, he called the experience “surreal.”This was his first time participating in a Wings of Hope airplane raffle, and it…Who Knew Pulling a 25-ton Plane Could Be So Fun?
Wings of Hope’s 2nd Annual Pulling for Hope event was a huge success. Eleven enthusiastic teams participated in this friendly competition to record the fastest time pulling a 25-ton Gulfstream III jet 60 feet across the taxiway outside the Wings…Wings of Hope Gala Hits New Heights
The Wings of Hope Soaring to New Heights Gala presented by FabickCat lived up to its name on Saturday, April 6, when 225 guests gathered at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac to celebrate the organization’s mission-critical work of changing and…Sister Gives Brother Raffle Prize!
Most people who purchase tickets to our biannual airplane raffles are hoping to win the grand prize: a plane. But a raffle ticket also buys a chance to win one of three additional prizes including a PPL (private pilot license)…What’s Happening in the Wings of Hope Hangar?
Wings of Hope is a global humanitarian network of partners serving people in nine countries, but the heart and soul of the organization is its hangar at Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield, Mo. A quick walk through the…Teams Pull for Hope — and Bragging Rights — at First Plane Pull
Wings of Hope’s inaugural Pulling for Hope fundraiser took place on October 14 — a windy Saturday that started off rainy — on the tarmac outside the Wings of Hope hangar. But the chilly conditions couldn’t cool the enthusiasm of…Gala Soars at New Venue
The Wings of Hope Soaring to New Heights Gala presented by Fabick Cat shown bright on April 29 at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac, a new venue for the signature fundraiser which was held in the spring for the first…Taste of Hope Raises $33,000 to Support Wings of Hope’s Global Humanitarian Network
On Sept. 17, the Wings of Hope hangar filled with some 250 guests who enjoyed tastings from 20 restaurants, a silent auction, 50/50 raffle, music by DJ Carlos Suarez and a special performance by Beyond Measure Dance. Taste of Hope,…June Gala Soars to New Heights
More than 350 guests filled the Khorassan Ballroom at the Chase Park Plaza Royal Sonesta Hotel St. Louis on June 4 for the Wings of Hope Soaring to New Heights Gala. The largest annual fundraising event for Wings of Hope…Taste of Hope Raises $43,000 to Support Programs in Haiti, Ecuador and Zambia
On Sept. 25, Taste of Hope returned to the Wings of Hope hangar as an unprecedented success. The approximately 250 patrons enjoyed a stellar lineup of culinary choices, silent auction, 50/50 raffle, music by DJ Carlos Suarez and a special…Spring Airplane Raffle Sells Out in Under 5 Hours!
The excitement surrounding our bi-annual airplane raffles has reached a fever pitch with the April 1 raffle selling out in just under five hours. The first 3,000 tickets sold just one hour after the ticket sales went live — setting…Golfers Turn Out to Support Wings of Hope!
In a year in which canceled events seem par for the course, we were thrilled that two golf tournaments benefiting Wings of Hope went off as planned. On September 20, golfers gathered at The Courses in Forest Park in St.…Fall Airplane Raffle Sells Out in 18 Hours!
The streak continues! The Wings of Hope fall airplane raffle sold out all 5,000 tickets in 18 hours — and raised a whopping $325,000. The winner of the 1969 Beechcraft Musketeer Super III will be announced after the ticket drawing…Taste of Hope Drive-Thru Edition Exceeds Expectations
Each year since the inaugural Taste of Hope in 2017, the Young Ambassadors’ annual food fest has created more excitement, drawn bigger crowds and, most of all, generated more funds to support the global communities we serve. Like most everything…Airplane Raffle Sells Out – Again!
Our April 1 airplane raffle sold all 5,000 tickets in 11 hours – and raised more than $300,000 to support Wings of Hope. The grand prize winning ticket will be drawn on May 26. “Our airplane raffles are always very…Against All Odds … Airplane Raffle Winner Finally Gets His Wings
After a lifetime of setbacks, Idaho Falls resident Kelly Howell finally got his plane – a 1965 Cessna 172. Howell was the lucky holder of the grand-prize-winning ticket in Wings of Hope’s September airplane raffle. Howell, who has been buying…Hope is Where the Heart Is – One for the Books!
Our annual Hope Is Where the Heart Is Gala is our most highly anticipated event of the year. And our 2020 event, which took place February 8 at a packed Chase Park Plaza ballroom, lived up to the hype. With…Autumn Airplane Raffle Raises Record Funds
Our September 16 airplane raffle not only sold out – it raised about $330,000, making it our highest grossing raffle ever. The winner of the grand prize, a 1965 Cessna 172, will be announced at the ticket drawing on October…Wings of Hope Welcomes Blue Angels
When the U.S. Navy Blue Angels come to town, it’s always special. They last performed at the Spirit of St. Louis Air Show & STEM Expo in 2016. So when air show sponsor Boeing asked if we would host the…Taste of Hope Biggest and Best Yet!
The third annual Taste of Hope hosted by the Young Ambassadors of Wings of Hope on Saturday, Oct. 5, was the biggest and best yet – with record-breaking attendance and proceeds raised. Tickets to the international food fest sold out…Ladies Luncheon Highlights Power of Partnership
The ladies of Wings of Hope gathered at the Chase Park Plaza for their annual luncheon on June 6. Wings of Hope Board member and Executive Director of St. Louis Children’s Hospital Shelley Perulfi was the featured speaker. Shelley shared…Spring Airplane Raffle Sells Out in Record Time!
Our April 1st airplane raffle sold out so fast – 2 hours 50 minutes – we barely had time to get our second cup of coffee before all 4,000 tickets were gone. The grand prize, a 1978 Beechcraft C-23 Sundowner,…Oh, What a Night! 2019 Dinner Auction Breaks Records
More than 450 guests packed the Khorassan Ballroom at the Chase Park Plaza for our 2019 Hope Is Where the Heart Is gala on February 9 – setting a new attendance record and raising nearly $400,000 (an all-time high) for…Wings of Hope Represents in America’s Parade
Future Wings of Hope pilot, Mason, led the Wings of Hope balloon down the streets of St. Louis in America’s Birthday Parade. We fly Mason to St. Louis Children’s Hospital for treatment of clubfeet and he makes the entire Wings…GSLBAA Golf Tournament & Trivia Night Benefits Wings of Hope
Every year, Wings of Hope is the fortunate beneficiary of two fundraising events hosted by the Greater St. Louis Business Aviation Association, or GSLBAA. This past summer, GSLBAA’s annual golf tournament and trivia night resulted in a $29,000 gift to…Taste of Hope Brings Food, Fun & Friends to the Hangar!
The second annual Taste of Hope drew 300 people to the Wings of Hope hangar on Saturday, October 6, for an afternoon of noshing on tasty samples from Vito’s in the Valley, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Zen Thai & Japanese Cuisine,…Laurna Godwin Inspires at Wings of Hope Ladies Luncheon
As a three-time Emmy award winning broadcast journalist and owner of her own communications firm, we had high expectations for our Ladies Luncheon speaker this past June — and she did not disappoint! Laurna Godwin inspired everyone with her interactive…Spring Raffle Plane Delivered
Brian Franz of Texas is the grand prize winner and proud new owner of the Cessna 172 we raffled off in April. Brian has purchased tickets to several of our raffles, including the most recent one in September. He is…Fall Raffle Sells Out in Four Hours – Raises $260K!
All 4,000 tickets to our September 17 airplane raffle sold out in four hours! We continue to be blown away by the popularity of our raffles — and the generosity of our ticket buyers. Most important, this raffle generated more…Spring Airplane Raffle is Record Sellout!
Our April 2nd Airplane Raffle was one for the books. We sold all 4,000 tickets in 3 hours, 24 minutes—and raised a whopping $168,925. We will pull the winning tickets on May 18 at 1 p.m. Central Time. Stay tuned…Hope Is Where the Heart Is Gala Celebrates 15 Years of MAT!
The threat of ice in the forecast didn’t stop more than 400 guests from packing the house at the sold out Hope Is Where the Heart Is gala at the Chase Park Plaza on Feb. 10. The highlight of the…Fall Airplane Raffle Winners Announced
To say the winner of our fall airplane raffle (the holder of ticket number 298358369) was excited when we called to tell him he was the new owner of the grand prize 1977 Cessna 150, is an understatement. We could…Against All Odds – Minnesota Woman Wins Spring Airplane Raffle
The odds of Nyla Schroeder winning our spring airplane raffle were slim. First, her ticket had to be selected from the 4,000 sold. Second, she was participating in a raffle in which upwards of 95% of ticket buyers are men.…Taste of Hope Success!
The Young Ambassadors of Wings of Hope hosted their first major fundraising event in the Wings of Hope hangar on October 14 – and Taste of Hope was a resounding success! More than 225 enjoyed tasting portions from local restaurants…Wings of Hope Ladies Luncheon
Don't let the title fool you, women at the annual Wings of Hope Ladies Luncheon shared some serious ideas about how to make giving back a priority — no matter how busy life gets. Guests who attended the June 1…Give STL Day Drives Donations
On May 11, 2017, we participated in our third consecutive Give STL Day. Out of more than 800 participating nonprofits, Wings of Hope ranked 3rd in amount of total donations — raising over $56,000 during the 24-hour online giving event.…Airplane Raffle Sells Out … Winners Announced!
On April 1, 2017 at 6 a.m. Central Time, we launched our latest airplane raffle to raise funds for our Medical Relief & Air Transport Program. Before noon, all 4,000 tickets had sold out! Nyla Schroeder of Minnesota won the…We Appealed to You … And You Responded Big Time!
In 2013, we started mailing you an annual appeal during the holiday season. That first year, we kept our expectations low. We already had the most generous donors in the world: How much more could we ask? Well, you blew…Wings of Hope Delivers C-172 to Fall Raffle Winner!
On a sunny Friday in February, Chris Cookenmaster looked up to see his first plane landing on the runway at Walker County Airport. Chris was the winner of Wings of Hope’s fall 2016 airplane raffle. He found out about the…Hope Is Where the Heart Is 2017 Gala Shines!
Love was in the air for more than 400 guests at Wings of Hope’s 15th annual Hope is Where the Heart is gala on Feb. 11 at The Chase Park Plaza. The evening boasted record attendance and raised significant funds…Three Sixty Luau Benefits Wings of Hope
For the second consecutive year, Three Sixty hosted an “End of Summer Luau” benefitting Wings of Hope. Guests enjoyed Hawaiianthemed food and entertainment from the glorious vantage point of Three Sixty’s rooftop bar – and Wings of Hope got 10%…Congratulations to Our Airplane Raffle Winners!
On October 25, we drew the winning tickets to our latest airplane raffle. Congratulations to Chris Cookenmaster of Arley, Alabama, who won our grand prize plane, and Christopher Haroldson of Fargo, North Dakota, who won the second prize PPL Scholarship!…Wings of Hope Represents at Oshkosh
Wings of Hope was well represented at the annual EAA AirVenture convention in Oshkosh, WI, July 24-31. Known simply as “Oshkosh” to pilots and billed as “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration,” the weeklong event features spectacular air shows, aircraft, hands-on…Second Airplane Raffle Sells Out in 12 Hours!
Our airplane raffle in April was so successful – 3,000 tickets sold out in 24 hours and raised $126,000 – that we raffled off a second plane on September 12. Who knew the second raffle could be even MORE successful?…Ladies Luncheon
Guests at the annual Wings of Hope Ladies Luncheon at the Chase Park Plaza rose in a standing ovation following passionate remarks from featured speaker, Ginger Imster. Ms. Imster shared her personal journey from a girl growing up in Columbia,…Repeat Success for Give STL Day!
Our second year participating in Give STL Day, 24-hour online giving event for St. Louis nonprofits on May 3, 2016, was marked with some technical glitches by the national processing firm supporting the local day of giving. But our donors,…Airplane Raffle Sells out in Less Than 24 Hours!
Our 6th Annual Airplane Raffle was an unprecedented success with 3,000 tickets selling out in less than 24 hours – 23 hours and 50 minutes to be precise! We raised more than $126,000 to support our Medical Relief & Air…
