Maverick Helicopters last week held the 3rd annual Toy Drive in partnership with the city of Avalon and Avalon Sheriff’s Station. The campaign continues the tradition of delivering toys and joy for Avalon’s children in need during the holiday season.
More than 300 gifts in total were donated by residents, visitors, and the LA County Sheriff’s Youth Foundation.
More than 150 local children turned up to meet Santa when he landed in Avalon.
Santa flew one of his new EC130-B4 helicopters to Avalon so Rudolph and the other reindeer could have a well-deserved break before Christmas Eve.
On Friday, Dec. 22, Santa and his elves loaded donated gifts into a helicopter, and flew to Avalon where they were joined by Mercy Air, which would deliver some of the gifts to Children’s Hospital Orange County. CHOC has treated many children from the island with terminal illnesses. Deputies from the Avalon Sheriff Station were also be present to be on the lookout for the Grinch. He reportedly tried to steal toys but was chased off by the deputies. (He tried to the same stunt last year.) The deputies then escorted Santa and his elves to the City Hall where the gifts were distributed to local children.
Officials at Maverick Helicopters were excited to again partner with Santa for this community initiative. “We are grateful for the support from our partners at the city of Avalon, Avalon Sheriff’s Station, and of course Santa himself for making this holiday season a little more memorable for the younger island residents and their families who depend on tourism, which is minimal this time of year,” said Ben Villalobos, vice president of Business Development, Maverick Helicopters.
Capt. Matthew King, commander of the Avalon Sheriff’s Station, said: “Avalon Sheriff’s Station is proud to partner with Maverick Helicopters and the city of Avalon to deliver toys to the boys and girls in the Avalon community. This annual tradition has become a highlight for Avalon Station personnel. We look forward to another successful year.”
A spokesman for the city expressed similar sentiments.
“Each year our Island is blessed with organizations such as Maverick Helicopters, Southern California Edison, and the LA County Sheriff’s Department for partnering with the city to provide Christmas joy to our community, by delivering Santa’s toys for those who are less fortunate or can use a little help this Holiday,” said David Hart, Community Service manager for the city of Avalon.
About Maverick Helicopters
Maverick Helicopters, one of the largest aviation-based tourism companies in the world, flies more than 250,000 guests annually out of six locations in Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, and California.
Maverick Helicopters’ commitment to customer service is matched only by its commitment to safety. With its unparalleled customer service, experienced pilots, luxury helicopters, and superior safety standards, Maverick Helicopters has remained the industry leader in tourism-based operations for over 26 years. For more information visit www.FlyMaverick.com.
