Angel Flight West celebrates aviation heroes at 2026 Endeavor Awards

Angel Flight West (AFW) announced on Thursday that the 2026 Endeavor Awards will be held at the Wallis Annenberg Building at the California Science Center on May 1, 2026. The annual event is meant to celebrate the remarkable contributions of volunteer pilots and other aviation heroes who use flying as a way to change lives. The evening will open with a red-carpet entrance and will feature an outdoor reception with refreshments and both a premier silent auction and a luxury live auction. Two Inspiration Awardees and two Endeavor Awardees will be honored for their contributions to aviation and health care. Stephanie Goetz of The Pink Jet is planned to emcee the event, as guests will learn about the honorees' stories through special videos. The videos will also highlight AFW's collaborations with the Huntsman Cancer Institute and Cutter Aviation and the impact they have had on healthcare and aviation initiatives. Patients who have benefited from volunteer flights have been invited to share in the celebration. The Inspiration Honorees are: Will Cutter, President and CEO of Cutter Aviation, the oldest family-owned FBO in the U.S. Huntsman Cancer Institute, the National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center for Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Wyoming. The Endeavor Honorees are: Chris Bennett, Volunteer Pilot with Angel Flight West Jerry Hill, Volunteer Pilot with Challenge Air for Kids and Friends RELATED STORIES: Textron Aviation launches donation campaign for 2026 Special Olympics Airlift Angel Flight West to host Endeavor Awards in an extraordinary year of service JSX partners with Petco to provide elevated pet travel experience "The 12th Annual Endeavor Awards are a tribute to those who make our mission possible," said AFW Executive Director Mary Hunter. "By honoring heroes, we celebrate not only those who fly, but also the healthcare professionals who provide care and the dedicated supporters who make our work possible." The Endeavor Awards began in 2014 and have since honored 50 awardees across 17 charitable aviation organizations. It has raised $7.5 million to support charitable organizations that provide flights to serve those in need. Tickets for the awards can be purchased at endeavorawards.org and are available until April 10, 2026. AFW states that the night is supported by its major sponsors, including Alaska Airlines, UCLA Health, AOPA, ATC Tax Consultants, Cutter Aviation, Huntsman Cancer Foundation, Kenny and Irene Kato, Si Robin Foundation, The Zemeckis Foundation and others.