Dale, what is Genesis Aviation's commitment to social responsibility that has made the Race to Stop the Silence its choice to support so fully?

September 11, 2001 marked the beginning of the most turbulent (unintentional pun) period in the history of our industry. Since then, we've experienced the devastating effect on air travel in reaction to global terrorism, war in Afghanistan, nosedive of the Asian economy, bursting of the American economic bubble, SARS, and war in Iraq. As I travel around our industry I find many corporate leaders hunkered down in their offices waiting for a rain of frogs or locusts, boils and other Biblical plagues. Our company is taking a different approach. Like the rest of our aviation colleagues, we're surrounded and outgunned, yet we find it a great time to charge forward. Part of our refusal to sit and wait for the future is what we, as a corporate culture, can do for others. We find it extremely selfish to waste our time and energy acting for ourselves alone. Instead, we are putting our broad shoulders behind great efforts to help others in need.

Is there some corporate policy that drives Genesis's taking on of a project?

The founder of Genesis Aviation, Santiago A. Lluhi, escaped in 1960 with his family from their homeland of Cuba as the Marxist takeover turned more violent and their land and family business was confiscated. He frequently tells us, "My mother was grazed by a bullet from a Marxist guerilla spraying gunfire into a crowd. It was the last straw for my father and we packed everything we could into a few battered suitcases and made our way to the United States." The family got here with $21, so his father worked three jobs. Santiago's experiences have created a culture here of fighting for every inch of dirt, treating people with respect and helping others.

I suppose we could do for ourselves, but it much more fulfilling to do for others.

What kind of projects does Genesis take on and for what period of time?

Last year we created an organization called Wings of Democracy to help get the newly free government of Iraq off the ground. We spent the year raising awareness and money to help the Iraqis get a symbol of their nation's sovereignty, a national airline, up and flying again. We found it a matter of civil pride for people, like the Afghanis before, to show the world they are a true nation and can operate a commercial airline that lands planes with the country's colors and livery on the tail at Heathrow, Charles de Gaulle, and LaGuardia.

We choose one project at a time and work until we're satisfied we've made some sort of difference.

How many employees participate? How do they participate?

We have 60 employees in our North Carolina headquarters and all participate in some way. Some lick stamps and address envelopes; others visit friends and colleagues to solicit their involvement, while others give as few dollars from their paycheck each week.

Would you describe what you see as Genesis' place in society?

Genesis Aviation is a traditional U.S., blue-collar business. We repair and overhaul greasy, oily, dirty components and intricate avionics that make aircraft fly and help them land. We're people you never see working on aircraft parts you never see. We're in one of the most regulated industries in the world doing work that is so important there is no room for mistakes or variances. However, we are people of faith. Faith in the people of a country that puts vehicles on the surface of Mars, grows more food than all the countries of the European Union, and decodes the human genome. Our faith is our fellow human being-that when we serve one another through good works, we serve ourselves. We're leaders in serving. So, I suppose my answer to your question is; we're servant leaders in a disappearing American industry.

Would you describe, in a nutshell, what Genesis Aviation has done to date to support the Race and Campaign to Stop the Silence?

So far, we've used our reach in the aviation/aerospace industry to help the campaign touch over 2,000 people with the powerful message of the need for help in stopping the silence. We're continuing to contact and lobby our contacts for their participation either by donating money, buying the Lucinda pins, or sending teams to run the race. We're also asking them to send the information to their database in hopes of creating some sort of viral marketing campaign. We've also partnered with PBI Media, a company that publishes many magazine titles for the aerospace industry, to host a golf tournament later in the year to raise funds for Stop the Silence.

Dale, I'm out of questions! Let me just say, on behalf of the Race Team, survivors of childhood sexual abuse everywhere, we are overwhelmed with your generosity and commitment. You have already made a difference in that we have felt borne up, buoyed by your thoroughgoing efforts and spirit of giving. Let's hope we can fly that message around the world. We feel your "broad shoulders" behind us and thank you!