Holiday Gifting

In 1979, nine-year-old Elizabeth Teddi Mervis was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Not able to experience even the simplest joys of childhood, she felt frightened, isolated and alone. Her father wanted to change all that, not only for his daughter but also for other children with cancer. With the support of thousands in and outside of Rochester, New York, Camp Good Days created a new world for those touched by cancer, violence or any other affront to a child's dignity. The spirit and legacy of Teddi Mervis live on in the success of the organization she inspired.

Mercy Flights—America's first not-for-profit air ambulance service—was created in 1949 in direct response to the polio epidemic and medical transportation problems in Southern Oregon and Northern California. At that time, two small general hospitals provided basic medical care for the community of 17,000 residents. The nearest specialty hospitals for injuries and more complex care were in Eugene (167 miles), Portland (274 miles), and San Francisco (363 miles). Since the Interstate Highway System had not yet been built, these distances were very slowly traveled on two-lane roads. George Milligan, a young air traffic controller—and a pilot himself—mobilized the community to create Mercy Flights and recruited volunteer pilots and nurses to staff the service. The story of Mercy Flights is a grassroots account of heroism, service, creativity, tenacity, and strong community leadership.