Helicopter Pilot School Named City’s Most Philanthropic

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Guidance Aviation flies into Yavapai Exceptional Industries (YEI!) every year to sponsor the region’s program supporting adults with disabilities.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Prescott, Arizona, January 30, 2015 –
Guidance Aviation of Prescott, Arizona was named the City’s Most Philanthropic Business for organizations with more than 50 employees during the “Healthy Prescott Business Awards”, hosted by the Prescott Chamber of Commerce.

Since 2007, the helicopter pilot school has donated in excess of $580,000.00. These philanthropic efforts include cash, aircraft, equipment, and in-kind flight donations, including the donation of an Robinson R44 helicopter to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) to support the YCSO Search and Rescue (SAR) program. To date, the SAR program and helicopter have saved dozens of lives. Guidance Aviation has also donated nearly $30,000 to date to the Yavapai College Foundation.

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John Stonecipher, right, presenting $15,000 check to Dean John Morgan, Yavapai College, and the Yavapai College Foundation

In 2013, Guidance Aviation’s CEO John Stonecipher was named the Business Person of the Year by the United States Small Business Administration in Washington, D.C. Criteria for the prestigious national award included financial strength, sustained hiring, sustained growth, and philanthropic efforts.

Later this year, Stonecipher and Guidance Aviation will be announcing a significant multi-year sponsorship package providing both cash and in-kind donations to support women in helicopter aviation.

Guidance Aviation is an FAA approved helicopter flight training institution with flight operations in Prescott, Arizona and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Through its collegiate partner programs, graduates earn both their Associate of Applied Science Degrees (AAS) as well as their FAA certificates and ratings (CFI-I) necessary to become working, professional helicopter pilots. Guidance Aviation is a military friendly institution. The majority of its staff and nearly 80% of its student population are U.S. Military Veterans.

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MEDIA
Guy Roginson
310-745-4711 (cell)
pr@guidance.aero

Photos courtesy of Kim Kapin, Yavapai College:

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L to R: Dave Roy, Director of Communications, Guidance Aviation and Dean Blacklaw, Yavapai College.
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Dave Roy, Director of Communications, Guidance Aviation, speaking at the City’s business awards banquet.