2023 Top-Rated Nonprofit

AEROANGEL

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Nonprofit Overview

Causes: Emergency Medical Services & Transport, Health

Mission: AeroAngel helps seriously ill children access distant, lifesaving medical care on free, private jet flights across the country when they have no other safe transportation option.

Community Stories

28 Stories from Volunteers, Donors & Supporters

CatKennedy Client Served

Rating: 5

05/22/2025

Top Notch! They Worked with our hospital social work team to provide a safe, fast and comfortable experience for us. We needed to attend a Primary Visit to our newly assigned care team in Omaha, Nebraska - we live in Houston, TX and were not sure that we could arrange to travel to Omaha. Aero Angel made it happen. My daughter cannot fly on a regular airline because of fluid restrictions, IV pumps, and other medical appliances, etc. along with her super immunocompromised status. Not safe for her to be around large groups of people. I'm not in the best of health and a single parent - so a drive to Omaha was out of the question. The pilots were friendly and supportive, the plane was gorgeous and very low stress for my daughter (she has sensory issues), and the follow-up - yes there was a follow up phone call from the founder to make sure everything had gone smoothly! Wonderful experience!!!!! Thank you AeroAngel!

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TraceyD Client Served

Rating: 5

05/20/2025

AeroAngel is a dynamic organization that swooped in and blessed us with a round trip flight for our medically complex son to Boston Children's Hospital from Charlotte, N.C. Our severely immunocompromised 2 year old needed to be evaluated by Boston's Neurogenetics specialists in order to be a part of their brain malformation study. Thanks to Mark and his outstanding team, they found us a donor and everything else came together seamlessly! The entire travel experience and communication from start to finish was a dream come true and completely stress-free. The pilots were truly two of the kindest, most sincere and helpful humans. We are here to support AeroAngel's mission in any way possible. They are real life heroes and words cannot express our heartfelt gratitude. God Bless this one of a kind remarkable organization!!!

ambergale

ambergale Client Served

Rating: 5

03/19/2025

Our son has complex medical needs that require traveling across country for his care. For various reasons flying commercially isn't an option for us. Being able to have a way to travel where we know we can take our son's medical equipment, have the space needed to perform medical cares, not be in the crowds of people and germs, get directly from point A to B, limit the time he’s spent sitting in a restricted car seat to decrease the risk of blood clots, and more… it takes an immense load of stress off of our plates when it comes to traveling across country for already stressful medical cares.

We have taken two flights with Aero Angel. Both times were amazing experiences. The donors, pilots, and the team coordinating everything are all amazing people. You can tell they pour their hearts into the organization and their mission and I truly hope they hear us families when we say how much it means to us and how much we appreciate all they do.
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It’s the type of charity you don’t ever want to need, but is such a huge blessing to have.
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PS: note our son signing “Airplane” and “Flying” in the one photo - I definitely think it’s appropriate that there’s similarities with the sign for “I love you”

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aguiblue Client Served

Rating: 5

10/31/2024

AeroAngel provided a private flight for my daughter to Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto from Houston, TX. Mark and his team were awesome and helped us during an extremely stressful medical trip. Being able to take a private flight SIGNIFICANTLY reduced the risk of flying for my daughter because of her compromised immune system. This organization was a HUGE blessing for my wife and I. We are so thankful for what they do. A trip across the country is extremely stressful in our situation and AeroAngel took a big portion of that stress off of us. Thank you AeroAngel!

AAFCoordinator2020 Client Served

Rating: 5

10/18/2024

Our experience with AeroAngel was nothing short of incredible. My daughter, Emelia, had just undergone a life-saving bone marrow transplant at Stanford University, and her severely compromised immune system made it impossible for her to travel on a commercial flight. We were worried about how we’d get her back home to Illinois safely, but AeroAngel came through for us in a way we never expected.

The AeroAngel coordinator worked tirelessly to arrange a last-minute flight, making use of a private jet that was already scheduled to travel from LA to Chicago. Their quick thinking and dedication to Emelia's needs gave us such peace of mind. The flight itself was seamless; the pilots were incredibly accommodating and polite, ensuring Emelia was as comfortable as possible. The kindness and professionalism we experienced extended to the airport staff, who went above and beyond to make our journey smooth. They even arranged for us to land at a small private airport close to our hometown, making the transition home easier than we ever imagined.

AeroAngel truly made a world of difference in our lives during a time when we needed it most. We are beyond grateful for their help in getting Emelia home safely. Thank God for the wonderful team at AeroAngel

tspiehs Client Served

Rating: 5

10/10/2024

Our son is immune compromised and needed to fly for brain surgery. AeroAngel stepped in and provided him with a private flight. The team was so wonderful and got our son transported so he could have his surgery. Very greatful for their help!!

Anitavan General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

04/16/2024

Thank you for taking my friends daughter (and my friend, of course) to her appointment to see a neurosurgeon. She would not have been able to go if not for Aeroangel. She isn't well enough to travel long distances via automobile or commercial flights. Simply navigating the airport is exhausting for this young lady. Sara's rare condition will require surgery and there are maybe 5 surgeons world-wide that are trained to perform the procedure. Thank you for what you do. May God continue to bless this non-profit and all who are involved.

eshm Client Served

Rating: 5

04/14/2024

Our family was incredibly blessed to receive a flight to Boston for our daughter. This allowed her to avoid sickness before cardiac testing and procedures. Any sickness would have delayed these vital interventions, which would have caused major setbacks with possible long-term implications.

The coordination of the flight was extremely easy with minimal stress and we felt confident in the plan every step of the way. AeroAngel coordinators were so kind in checking in on us the day before, the day of, and after arrival to make sure all questions were answered.

The airplane was incredibly clean and the pilots and crew were extremely accommodating and friendly. We felt safe and comfortable during the flight.

This organization does amazing things and we are so grateful that they were able to provide our daughter with transportation. Thank you AeroAngel!

jhoppers Client Served

Rating: 5

04/04/2024

My daughter needed medical transport to see a neurosurgeon in Oregon. I have never been associated with a better organization. Exceedingly helpful, friendly, competent. I plan to support them going forward any way I can. I can't say enough about how much they helped our family. My daughter could not have made a commercial flight all the way across the country. THANK YOU AEROANGEL!

abitterman Client Served

Rating: 5

04/03/2024

We live in Toronto, Canada. Our youngest daughter was in need of private flight vs a commercial flight. Without getting into details, our Daughter had surgery in Toronto and went to Boston for rehab and treatments. We came back on a ambulatory flight. Our next trip scheduled was to go to New York MSK Kids for more treatments and Rehab.
I connected with David and team at Aeroangel, and i am not sure i have words to express how kind, considerate and overall incredible this team is. Take the Aero out and just simply say Angels!

David and team arranged a pilot on a private jet to fly into Toronto, pick us up, drop us off in New York - it made it seem like a ride to the grocery store.

David - you should continue to be blessed with your efforts and endeavours in helping families in the most trying times.

To the pilot - i would prefer not to mention his name - your compassion and kindness are beyond words!

bkeller17 General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

10/30/2023

AeroAngel is an incredible service to those in need! I’ve been familiar with the nonprofit for over half a decade and am continually impressed by the selfless work they do.

Specifically, I had the chance to see a flight in action last year. There was an immuno-compromised child in the city I live in and he was able to benefit from an AeroAngel at no expense to the family! Knowing the family through connections, I can only imagine the financial burden of repeated medical operations and flights to far away specialists. There is no question AeroAngel was a blessing to them.

And I want to be clear this wasn’t just an airplane-Uber ride either — the entire AeroAngel crew made the flight fun, light hearted, and a memorable experience for those in the family. In fact, the child needing the flight had a sister who wants to be a pilot someday so I know for a fact that was a big moment for her too to be able to check out the cockpit and hear from the pilots about their line of work.

Awesome experience for me to be able to witness!

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AeroAngel Team 11/03/2023

It's testimonials like yours that highlight the heart of what we do at AeroAngel. Thank you for recognizing the dedication and care that goes into each flight. Your support means the world to us!

AA2023 Client Served

Rating: 5

10/28/2023

On behalf of my entire family, and our son, Leo, we would like to say thank you to AeroAngel with all our hearts for the blessed and once in a lifetime experience. We knew we were in the hands of God with the safety and comfort that we felt with the whole AeroAngel crew. We appreciate the support that was given to us from beginning to end. Thank you for providing the convenience, comfort, personal space, generosity, kindness, understanding, and professionalism. Without AeroAngel it would have been very difficult for us to travel to Durham, NC , for our son Leonidas to receive his lifesaving Thymus transplant. This opportunity changed our life for the better, especially Leo’s! He is now doing better and his immune system is starting to develop and is gradually weaning off medication which helped take place of an immune system. We’re so thankful to AeroAngel for also advocating to Leo’s medical teams for the safety and availability of the flight. Our family was given a VIP experience and we‘re forever grateful for that opportunity. We’ll cherish this experience for a life time!

With love,
The Gonzalez Family

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AeroAngel Team 11/03/2023

Your words truly uplift our team! Thank you for sharing your story and for helping to bring attention to the vital service AeroAngel provides. We're honored to have been able to help Leo reach the medical care he needed.

ywilcox Advisor

Rating: 5

10/24/2023

AeroAngel is an organization that gives hope to those who feel hopeless. They have consistently been able to provide much needed transportation in a seamless, hassle-free manner that allows for children and their families to travel for medical purposes. Attention to detail, wide network of flight donors, and commitment to making a difference is apparent in every facet of AeroAngel's operation. When families are let down by insurance companies that won't cover air ambulance, when time doesn't allow for a cross-country road trip, and when costs prohibit chartering a private flight, AeroAngel steps in to solve problems and save lives.

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AeroAngel Team 11/03/2023

Thank you for taking a moment to write such a wonderful review. Your words reinforce the importance of our mission and we are sincerely grateful for your support!

shay baillargeon Board Member

Rating: 5

10/23/2023

Aeroangel is a beacon of hope for families navigating their child's serious medical challenges. By offering private flights to distant medical facilities, this nonprofit ensures that geography and distance do not become barriers to receiving the best possible care. The commitment to linking children to specialized hospitals nationwide highlights the organization's dedication to health and well-being, irrespective of logistical challenges. Such initiatives not only alleviate the financial and emotional burdens on families but also play a vital role in enhancing the chances of positive medical outcomes. Aeroangel showcases the impact of combining aviation with altruism, making a tangible difference in the lives of many.

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AeroAngel Team 11/03/2023

Thank you for taking the time to share information about AeroAngel. Your testimonial helps spread the word about our mission to assist seriously ill children in reaching the medical care they need.

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haleyd23 Client Served

Rating: 5

10/15/2023

My son, Hunter, was born with 7 heart defects that were diagnosed after he was born. We didn’t have any time to prepare ourselves for the rollercoaster coming our way with that diagnosis. One thing led to another, and Hunter’s best chance at ever having a “normal” heart was in Boston. We submitted an application with AeroAngel and the volunteers worked tirelessly to fill our request; especially after our initial date got moved up three weeks, and put us having to be in Boston right after a holiday weekend.
They are all so compassionate and helpful, and we could not be more grateful for everything they did for our family! (They are also very straightforward, and will tell you to have a backup plan in place just in case the request cannot be filled.)

We are forever grateful for the dedicated volunteers at AeroAngel who go above and beyond to coordinate these much needed flights for children like Hunter!
These flights wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of the plane donors, the pilots, and the donations from regular people day in and day out!
They are the only organization in the country who coordinate flights for medically fragile children at no cost to the family. Because they are the only organization, you can imagine they are often overwhelmed with requests, but they do the very best that they can to fill every request. Before Hunter was born we never knew an organization like this even existed, or how big the need for this type of assistance is. If you’re ever looking for an organization to donate to, or if you need to get your child across the county for life saving medical care, this organization is at the top of our list!

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AeroAngel Team 11/03/2023

Thank you for your wonderful testimonial. We are so glad to hear about your positive experience with AeroAngel. Stories like yours inspire our pilots, volunteers, and supporters to keep pushing forward!

DWileyRob Volunteer

Rating: 5

10/13/2023

I have been a volunteer pilot for AeroAngel for about 4 years. They have an amazingly unique organization.

The secret sauce is their network. It is a vast web of people helping people: Rich, poor, old, young, this side or that, volunteer and staff.

They expertly facilitate this network to get kids who need care to the specific facilities that are best equipped for their particular illness.

By donating to this non-profit your dollars are HIGHLY leveraged because they support a staff of angels who get the majority of these private flights donated...for FREE. I highly recommend learning more about them and their mission.

wilkerd4 Client Served

Rating: 5

10/08/2023

AeroAngel has been a game changer to our patients. They came to us in a time of need and delivered as they said they would. They were instrumental in getting a very sick patient, halfway across the country for their life-saving organ transplant. The team's compassion and we will "make it happen" attitude is a breath of fresh air. They are the ultimate professionals with an enormous heart.

webb_kayla Client Served

Rating: 5

10/06/2023

AeroAngel was an absolute blessing to our family during one of the hardest times of our life. Never once did they say that our situation was too complicated. They asked what we needed and then made it happen. The entire experience with AeroAngel was amazing. I will forever be thankful for their part in our story.

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AeroAngel Team 11/03/2023

Your message has truly brightened our day! Thank you for acknowledging the work we do at AeroAngel. It's an honor to serve families like yours.

Carol1989 Donor

Rating: 5

10/05/2023

I've been a long-time supporter of AeroAngel since its inception and first flight. Its mission is more than just helping a family with transportation. The AeroAngel team exhibits great care, compassion, and encouragement for the children and families it flies. Many families are grateful for the assistance they received during their tough medical journey. Carol

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AeroAngel Team 11/03/2023

We are humbled by your comments and sincerely thank you for acknowledging our work at AeroAngel. It is the community's support that fuels our mission and enables us to continue making a difference.

natyaps Client Served

Rating: 5

09/26/2023

AeroAngels provided my son with a lifeline when we needed it most. Due to my son’s rare genetic disease we were unable to fly commercially to get his monthly medical treatment during COVID. They turned a a 34 hour drive into just a few hours of flying and we are forever grateful for their help. The care and compassion that they showed my son and our family will never be forgotten.

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AeroAngel Team 11/03/2023

Thank you for taking the time to write such a thoughtful testimonial. It's an honor to serve families like yours, and we're incredibly grateful for the opportunity to help.

mikeA123 Client Served

Rating: 5

09/20/2023

We will be forever indebted to AeroAngel. Our son Jimmy has an extremely rare intestinal disorder That can only be treated by the experts at one hospital far away. Aeroangel has come through for our family time and again. They always make sure we have a comfortable ride and accommodate all our medical needs. Every pilot is so kind and all the AeroAngel staff have the best attitudes. On our last commercial flight, Jimmy became extremely sick. By transitioning to AeroAngel private flights, we have significantly reduced the chances of our little Jimmy getting common illness from the airport general population which can be life threatening for him. He may very well not be alive without AeroAngel. Thank you for loving and caring for Jimmy and bringing peace of mind to our family!

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AeroAngel Team 11/03/2023

Thank you for taking the time to write such a thoughtful testimony. The AeroAngel team is inspired by Jimmy's strength and courage, and we are honored to play a part in his journey to healing.

mhogan525 Client Served

Rating: 5

09/20/2023

Words cannot describe how grateful we are for AeroAngel. Our son, Jack, has a rare genetic condition called CCHS that requires specialized treatment at Boston Children's Hospital and Lurie Children's Hospital. When Jack was very medically fragile and required medical travel, AeroAngel stepped up and provided us multiple no-cost private flights that allowed Jack to receive lifesaving treatment. AeroAngel fills a very necessary gap for medically fragile children that need to travel for specialized treatment, but aren't critical enough to qualify for a formal medical flight that insurance would cover. I don't know where we would be without AeroAngel. They gave us a lifeline and saved Jack's life - we are forever grateful for their support and compassion.

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AeroAngel Team 11/03/2023

Thanks for taking the time to write such a touching testimonial! Each story, including Jack's, is a precious reminder of why we fly. We sincerely appreciate your heartfelt acknowledgment of our service and the difference it made for your family.

bethanyturner13 Client Served

Rating: 5

09/20/2023

My son Colton has a rare congenital heart disease. Aeroangel helped us get all the way across the country for life saving care ❤️ He loved the experience and talks about it to this day!

bassman3223 Client Served

Rating: 1

04/06/2022

Our son has an extremely rare genetic syndrome known as Kabuki along with immune difficiencies. He had an Anorectal malformation. Aero Angel provided us a flight to Houston with a promised return flight home. After 3 days in the hospital, our son's surgery was canceled. Aero Angel refused to honor their promised return flight, and instead left us stranded far from home.

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AeroAngel Team 06/04/2022

We provided a free, private jet flight for this child to ensure he was protected from pathogens before surgery. A return flight was scheduled a few weeks later after planned surgery. When the surgery was cancelled unexpectedly, we were unable to provide a return flight the next day to meet the family's schedule, and after further review of the child's current medical condition, a private jet flight was deemed not required for a safe return home. Since we are the only organization in the country providing free, private jet flights for seriously ill children, we are not always able to accommodate a parent's request for a private flight costing $10,000 or more.

ParentsOfAva Client Served

Rating: 5

03/28/2021

Our daughter was born with a congenital heart defect that required us to travel across the country for her open heart surgery. The prospect of travelling via commercial flights with a medically fragile and immunocompromised infant was extremely daunting.

Thankfully, AeroAngel swooped in and delivered a miracle - actually, two miracles! They arranged completely free, direct, private charter flights both to and from our daughter's surgery, so that she would have the best chance to avoid being exposed to illnesses en route, and therefore have the best chance at a good surgical outcome and a long, healthy life.

Everyone we worked with at AeroAngel has been extremely kind and helpful. They didn't yet have a jet donor where we live, so the CEO personally cold called around in order to arrange these flights for us. What a huge relief!

We're happy to report that our daughter is recovering well, thanks in no small part to these wonderful humans!

Words cannot appropriately express our gratitude to AeroAngel for the positive impact they've had on our lives.

dreaper Client Served

Rating: 5

03/26/2021

We spent 4 months in PA at CHOP while my son got his BMT transplant. Post transplant he was and still is immunosuppressed and it can be dangerous for him to be around other people, the common cold puts him in the hospital. Commercial flights were off the table and the thought of driving a 1000 miles with a recovering 1 year old was daunting. We needed a miracle and AeroAngle was there for us. Communication was amazing and the level of care was incredible, they gave us a safe way to come home and get back to our lives. For that our family will be forever grateful to AeroAngle!

RDiGi7 Client Served

Rating: 5

03/26/2021

AeroAngel is absolutely amazing! Without them the trip home from the hospital (California to Montana), would have been next to impossible with our son. He suffered multiple massive strokes (on the left side of the brain) during a trip in which he as having surgery (on right side of brain) to prevent further strokes. The latest strokes he had were very massive and led him to having a G-Tube and not being able to sit up unassisted. AeroAngel stepped right up and helped us get home. They made a bed in the back of the plane so he was able to lay flat the whole trip and travel without any worries. We were able to drive directly up to the plane and load up with ease and help. They treated us with first class the from the minute we pulled up to the minute they helped us load him in our car at home. Words truly cannot express how grateful and lucky we are to have AeroAngel help get our family home safely. They are a first class organization that truly cares about kids and doing whatever they can to help families in their time of need.

AeroAngel Volunteer

Rating: 5

12/23/2014

AeroAngel is an all-volunteer organization that provides free air transportation using its pressurized aircraft and a crew of professional pilots to fly passengers traveling for medical care or other compelling reasons. We only provide flights for those who cannot travel by commercial airline because of their health condition. Our mission is to provide free flights on short-notice, for multiple passengers, over long distances, and in most weather conditions. Last year our administrative expenses were just 2.7% of our total budget. A dedicated donor covers these expenses so that 100% of donations go directly toward flight-related expenses. (2013 tax return is posted on our website). AeroAngel is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit overseen by a board of directors. www.AeroAngel.org Mark Pestal, President/Founder, 1550 Larimer Street, #899, Denver, CO 80202 (303) 817-7355

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