BOONE, NC — Samaritan’s Purse President and CEO Franklin Graham will dedicate the organization’s new Greensboro Airlift Response Center on Tuesday, Sept. 26. This facility was built to support the organization’s two largest cargo aircraft—a Douglas DC-8 and a newly acquired Boeing 757. The more than 62,000-square-foot response center includes a 55,000-square-foot hangar, office space, and the capacity to facilitate a wide range of aircraft maintenance activities. It is staffed by 21 people, including pilots, flight engineers, load masters, maintenance personnel, and additional flight support staff.
Samaritan’s Purse recently expanded its fleet of aircraft by adding a 757 freighter airplane. The cargo hold is equivalent to the space of three tractor-trailers, and it can carry a maximum load of 67,000 pounds of cargo—increasing the N.C.-based organization’s ability to respond to disasters at a moment’s notice. The 757 completed its first relief mission on Sept. 1, airlifting 24 tons of cargo to Maui, Hawaii, where volunteers are helping wildfire victims begin to recover.
“Disasters and crises are happening more and more frequently around the world. Things aren’t getting better, they seem to be getting worse, and we want to help those who are suffering when their needs are greatest. As a pilot, I know the value of aviation. It allows us to respond quickly when disasters strike—we couldn’t do it without these tools and this team,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “We thank God for the new Greensboro Airlift Response Center and our two cargo planes that give us the ability to meet needs in Jesus’ Name.”
Officials from Greensboro and the surrounding area as well as local church leaders and key Samaritan’s Purse staff will be at this special ceremony.
When:
Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 10 a.m. ET
Media opportunities immediately following the dedication.
Where:
Greensboro Airlift Response Center 1 Samaritan Lane, Greensboro, N.C.
During the past seven years, Samaritan’s Purse has flown nearly 8 million pounds of cargo out of Greensboro, North Carolina, on 185 flights to 55 countries, including Turkey, Iraq, Haiti, and Sudan. The Samaritan’s Purse DC-8 has made 41 roundtrip flights for Ukraine, carrying an Emergency Field Hospital and 1.5 million pounds of desperately needed relief supplies.
About Samaritan’s Purse
Based in Boone, North Carolina, Samaritan’s Purse responds to the physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situations—especially in locations where few others are working. Led by President and CEO Franklin Graham, Samaritan’s Purse works in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine and persecution. For more information, visit SamaritansPurse.org.
On-site Media Contact: Mark Barber, 828-386-5803, mbarber@samaritan.org
Media Opportunities
- Interview Franklin Graham, pilot, and president and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse.
- Interview Andrew Klischer, director of operations in Missions Aviation Services for Samaritan’s Purse and pilot of the 757 and DC-8.
- Tour the Samaritan’s Purse 757.
- Photo and b-roll opportunities available inside the new Greensboro Airlift Response Center.
- High-quality photos and b-roll of the 757 and DC-8 on airlift missions available here.
Read more news on Non Profit / Faith Based Organizations, and Disaster Relief on Missions Box.
Source: Samaritan’s Purse International Relief, Franklin Graham Dedicates New Samaritan’s Purse Airlift Response Center in Greensboro