“We did it,” was a sound that reverberated as team after team pulled a FedEx Boeing 757 12 feet on a taxi way at New York Stewart International Airport Saturday, June 29. The event raised almost $50,000 for the work of United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region (UWDOR) in Dutchess and Orange counties and really put the “FUN” in fundraising, according to UWDOR President & CEO Jeannie Montano.
“Through Pull the Plane we had over 700 donations that are going into the community and we are going to raise close to $50,000,” stated Jeannie Montano, United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region President & CEO. “It was such a success!”
Presented with the support of FedEx Express, Pull the Plane provided a unique opportunity to come together as fellow employees or community advocates and pull for our community. As Ali Muhammed, one of the members of Team Poughmentum explained, “If we can pull a plane, we can pull our community together!”
The members of Team Poughmentum came together under the leadership of co-captains Corene Concepcion-Rivera and L’Quette Taylor. Poughmentum had strong momentum and pulled the fastest to take home first place with a winning time of 8.626 seconds.
Team Central Hudson and Central Hudson’s Anthony Campagiorni took home top fundraising team and top individual fundraiser, respectively.
Tina Rodgers from FedEx explained that the plane pulls started at Dulles, Virginia 21 years ago and these events raise approximately $1 million a year for charities and their causes. She said that these plane pulls are a way for “FedEx to give back to community and to participate in local communities and nationwide.”
“Pulling a plane is something people think they can’t do,” explained Susan Dean from McKesson Metro New York. “It’s symbolism for if ‘I can tell my mind that I can pull this plane,’ what else can I accomplish in life.“
For more information on Pull the Plane or to contribute to a favorite team or team member, go to www.uwdor.org/pulltheplane.
United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region thanks captain sponsor: GEODIS; Pull the Plane First Office sponsors: American Express, Community Matters 2 / BGW Arts, Connor & Associates, and The Poughkeepsie Galleria; First Engineer sponsors: EC Media Group and Wallkill Valley Federal Savings & Loan; as well as media sponsors: The Poughkeepsie Journal/LocaliQ, MidHudsonNews.com and K104 Radio. In addition, In & Out Deli & Catering, 3 Mamas and Mike Catering & Take Out and Famous Damon’s provided meals for Pull the Plane.
If you are interested in participating or sponsoring next year’s Pull the Plane, email jmontano@uwdor.org.
