July 2015 –
I’ve always found the aviation community to be an exceptionally friendly and helpful one. Aviators go out of their way to help one another.
This community also reaches out beyond its borders to help those in need. I know that many of you reading this volunteer your time and airplane for various causes and groups.
Well, I have good news for you.
In 2013 UnitedHealth Group commissioned a national survey* of 3,351 adults and found that the overwhelming majority of participants reported feeling mentally and physically healthier after a volunteer experience.
Here are some of the findings:
76 percent of people who volunteered in the last 12 months said that volunteering has made them feel healthier;
94 percent of people who volunteered in the last 12 months said that volunteering improved their mood;
78 percent said that volunteering lowered their stress levels;
96 percent reported that volunteering enriched their sense of purpose in life;
and about 25 percent reported that their volunteer work helped them manage a chronic illness by keeping them active and taking their minds off of their own problems.
Isn’t it great to know that when you are helping others, you’re also helping yourself?
And now I have an additional volunteer opportunity for you. We are looking for volunteers to help out at our booth at AirVenture and to help represent PFA at other aviation shows throughout the year.
It’s a great way to help grow the association, while you get the opportunity to meet fellow Piper flyers and attend some fun aviation events.
We’re offering some incentives for those volunteers as well. I’ll post more details on our online forums, or call us at 800-493-7450 if you are interested in volunteering.
I hope we get a chance to see many of you at upcoming shows—and maybe a few of you will be on “our side” of the booth!
Blue skies,
Jennifer Dellenbusch
*Source: “Doing Good is Good for You: 2013 Health and Volunteering Study” by UnitedHealth Group. Available at https://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/~/media/UHG/PDF/2013/UNH-Health-
Volunteering-Study.ashx
