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People pulling an airplane
Title

Pulling Together to Support Local Santa Barbara Non-Profit

Subtitle
Santa Barbara Airport hosts 2nd Annual Alpha Resource Center Plane Pull Fundraiser
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Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) is proud to partner with Alaska Airlines and Atlantic Aviation to host local non-profit Alpha Resource Center’s 2nd Annual Plane Pull fundraiser on Saturday, March 4, 2023.

On the airfield at SBA, competing teams will attempt to pull a nearly 100,000-pound Alaska Airlines Embraer 175 aircraft with a rope for a distance of 20-feet in the fastest time possible. West-coast based Alaska Airlines – serving Santa Barbara with air daily service for more than three decades – is the presenting sponsor of the event. The event is also hosted in cooperation with Atlantic Aviation at SBA.

SBA has been working closely with all three partners - Alpha Resource Center, Alaska Airlines and Atlantic Aviation - to organize this one-of-a-kind community event as a symbol of the amazing outcomes that can be achieved when the whole community pulls together in the same direction. Fundraising teams can include family members, friends, co-workers or even gym buddies. There will be two divisions: one for public safety personnel such as EMTs, police officers, firefighters, and military personnel and the other for the general community. The event is designed for participants of all abilities and ages.

The competing teams will raise money for Alpha Resource Center by soliciting donors and sponsors to support their team’s participation. Each member of a 10-person team will raise at least $1,000 to participate. All participants will receive an event T-shirt and a chance to win championship prizes as a reward for the fastest plane pull, in addition to significant bragging rights.

“Alpha Resource Center highlights the unlimited ability of the individuals we serve. We are excited for Alpha participants and families to join teams from throughout Santa Barbara County to do something we all might think is impossible -- pulling an actual Alaska Airlines plane! All of us will walk away from this event with a new perspective of what’s possible,” said Josh Weitzman, Executive Director of Alpha Resource Center. "We thank Alaska Airlines, Santa Barbara Airport and Atlantic Aviation for helping make our 2nd Annual Plane Pull possible."

Alpha Resource Center would like to thank all sponsors who help make this event possible:

Presenting Sponsor: Alaska Airlines

Gold Sponsor: M Timm Development, Inc.

Bronze Sponsors: American Riviera Bank and Mutual of America Financial Group

Venue Sponsors: Santa Barbara Airport and Atlantic Aviation

Registration is now open, learn more and register here: https://alphasb.org/plane-pull

To participate as a sponsor or for any event questions, please contact Jeff Henson at Alpha Resource Center, (805) 683-2145 or jhenson@alphasb.org

Video from 2022 Plane Pull Event.

MEDIA ATTENDANCE

RSVP for Media Attendance at event requested. Please email Angi Daus at adaus@santabarbaraca.gov

ABOUT THE PARTNERS

Alpha Resource Center

Few local non-profits are as well-known and respected in the Santa Barbara community as Alpha who is celebrating its 70th anniversary throughout 2023. With the belief that everyone has a valuable contribution to make, Alpha’s mission is to empower individuals with intellectual and similar developmental disabilities to make their mark on the world. Since 1953, their programs have brought ability to the forefront, and highlight potential while supporting families, creating opportunities and fostering belonging.

Media Contact:

Jeff Henson, Development Director

jhenson@alphasb.org

(805) 683-2145

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines and our regional partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica and Mexico. We strive to be the most caring airline with award-winning customer service and an industry-leading loyalty program. Alaska is a member of the oneworld global alliance. With the alliance and our additional airline partners, our guests can travel to more than 900 destinations on more than 20 airlines while earning and redeeming miles on flights to locations around the world. Learn more about Alaska at news.alaskaair.com and follow @alaskaairnews for news and stories. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group.

Media Contact:

Maria Cid, Communications Program Manager

(916) 600-2022

maria.cid@alaskaair.com

Atlantic Aviation

Atlantic Aviation, proudly serving the SBA Airport and the Santa Barbara community. Atlantic is a leading provider of FBO services, with a continued focus on sustainability solutions, enhanced safety processes, and exceptional service.

Media Contact:

Cassandra Corral

General Manager

805-979-8562

cassandra.corral@atlanticaviation.com

Contact

Contact

Angi Daus
Marketing Supervisor