For Immediate Release
GARY SINISE FOUNDATION AND AMERICAN AIRLINES HOST SEND-OFF CELEBRATIONS FOR CHILDREN OF FALLEN HEROES THROUGH SNOWBALL EXPRESS AT AIRPORTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY
This all-expenses paid annual retreat offers five days of therapeutic and inspiring programs at Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando, Florida, to support families of fallen military heroes.
WOODLAND HILLS, California — The holidays can be especially challenging for grieving families of fallen military heroes. On December 7, 2019, the Gary Sinise Foundation Snowball Express (GSF SBE) service will host a five-day experience for more than 1,700 family members of the fallen, focusing on their children and the surviving parent or guardian. These families come from more than 87 cities. This therapeutic retreat will offer fun and inspiring programs, encouraging critical peer-to-peer support for these families.
No matter where these families may be in their grieving process, Snowball Express aims to provide a memorable experience where they can access support, create new bonds, make positive memories and build a community with people who can truly understand their loss: each other.
Snowball Express began in 2006, with a letter written by a fallen Soldier to his wife, only to be opened should he perish in battle. While the letter expressed many things, one wish was that they visit Disneyland. From that letter, Snowball Express was created to bring together the children and surviving spouses of fallen U.S. military heroes for a healing retreat.
Thanks to the official airline partner, American Airlines, the Gary Sinise Foundation will unite these families in a way that honors that initial letter from the fallen Soldier – at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. In addition, families will have direct access to complimentary resources such as counseling services, application support for educational scholarships, education and access to medical and government benefits, financial counseling and assistance, mentoring, and aid for those with special needs or disabilities. GSF SBE will offer a variety of activities and entertainment, including a concert from Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band.
This trip is made possible by the Foundation’s generous donors, its official airlines partner American Airlines, and its corporate partners: Owens Corning, ATD, Aerotek, WoodmenLife, and Highland Capital Management.
Families will travel via 13 donated American Airlines charter flights with all volunteer crews making stops in 22 cities across the country with dozens more traveling from around the world, including Guam, London, and Germany among others.
Families are leaving from airports in the following cities:
Albany, New York
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Alexandria, Virginia
Anchorage, Alaska
Arlington, Virginia
Atlanta, Georgia
Bangor, Maine
Belgrade, Montana
Bentonville, Arkansas
Blountville, Tennessee
Birmingham, Alabama
Bismarck, North Dakota
Boise, Idaho
Boston, Massachusetts
Branson, Missouri
Buffalo, New York
Carolina, Puerto Rico
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Charlotte, North Carolina
Chicago, Illinois
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Columbus, Ohio
Denver, Colorado
Des Moines, Iowa
Detroit, Michigan
DFW, Texas
El Paso, Texas
Eugene, Oregon
Fargo, North Dakota
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Frankfurt, Germany
Grand Junction, Colorado
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Gulfport, Mississippi
Honolulu, Hawaii
Houston, Texas
Huntsville, Alabama
Indianapolis, Indiana
Jung-gu, Incheon, South Korea
Kansas City, Missouri
Killeen, Texas
Knoxville, Tennessee
Las Vegas, Nevada
Lexington, Kentucky
Little Rock, Arkansas
Los Angeles, California
Louisville, Kentucky
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester, United Kingdom
Memphis, Tennessee
Miami, Florida
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Moline, Illinois
Morrisville, North Carolina
Mosinee, Wisconsin
Narita, Japan
Nashville, Tennessee
New Orleans, Louisiana
Norfolk, Virginia
Pensacola, Florida
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Phoenix, Arizona
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Portland, Maine
Portland, Oregon
Queens, New York
Rochester, New York
Roswell, New Mexico
Sacramento, California
Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
Salt Lake City, Utah
San Angelo, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Diego, California
Savannah, Georgia
Seattle, Washington
Shreveport, Louisiana
South Burlington, Vermont
Spokane, Washington
St. Louis, Missouri
Syracuse, New York
Tamuning, Guam
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Warwick, Rhode Island
Windsor Locks, Connecticut
Wichita, Kansas
About the Gary Sinise Foundation:
Established in 2011 by actor/humanitarian Gary Sinise, aka Lt Dan from Forrest Gump, the Foundation honors America’s defenders, veterans, first responders, their families and those in need. Through its R.I.S.E. program (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment), specially adapted smart homes are being constructed for severely wounded veterans nationwide. Each one-of-a-kind home is customized to ease the everyday burdens of a wounded hero, their family, and caregivers. Other programs include Relief & Resiliency, Community Outreach & Education, and First Responders Outreach. Under these programs the Foundation offers numerous services and events, including Invincible Spirit Festivals, Gary Sinise & the Lt. Dan Band, Arts & Entertainment Outreach, Serving Heroes, and Soaring Valor. A more recent addition is Snowball Express, which serves the children of our fallen military heroes, surviving spouses, and Gold Star families. For more information, please visit: www.garysinisefoundation.org.
About American Airlines Group:
American Airlines offers customers 6,800 daily flights to more than 365 destinations in 61 countries from its hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. With a shared purpose of caring for people on life’s journey, American’s 130,000 global team members serve more than 200 million customers annually. Since 2013, American has invested more than $28 billion in its product and people and now flies the youngest fleet among U.S. network carriers, equipped with industry-leading high-speed Wi-Fi, lie-flat seats, and more inflight entertainment and access to power. American also has enhanced food and beverage options in the air and on the ground in its world-class Admirals Club and Flagship lounges. American was recently named a Five Star Global Airline by the Airline Passenger Experience Association and Airline of the Year by Air Transport World. American is a founding member of oneworld®, whose members serve 1,100 destinations in 180 countries and territories. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL and the company’s stock is included in the S&P 500. Learn more about what’s happening at American by visiting news.aa.com and connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.