Association Management Group Supports PTI 5K 10K on the Runway with Sponsorship, Food and Racers

Saturday, June 6, 2015 was a perfect day: sunny and about 75 degrees. The tarmac stretched away, a shimmering 9000 feet of perfectly straight airport runway. But for the 1473 runners, including Ashley Kearnes, Certified Manager of Community Associations with Greensboro’s Association Management Group, and AMG’s race team, the goal wasn’t just to reach the end in first place. It was much bigger than that: it was to feed the community’s hungry. In its sixth year, the PTI 5K 10K on the Runway at Piedmont Triad International Airport drew a big crowd of participants and sponsors like AMG but, more importantly, it drew a lot of attention to its cause: supporting Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC and its 400 food assistance program partners in their efforts to end hunger through education, outreach and advocacy. The race also benefitted Greensboro Urban Ministry and Open Door Ministry, organizations that provide emergency, housing and food assistance to people in need.
      This unique race on the runway provided a close-up view of the airport and surrounding area from the airfield. But it provided something more as well, an opportunity for connection and service. “It was a great day of camaraderie and fun,” said Kearnes, AMG’s race team coordinator. “At AMG, we believe it’s important to serve, to give back the community you live in. Hunger is always an important need, one that tends to be forgotten except at Christmas time. Team AMG will definitely be back next year.”
      AMG, a first-time sponsor of the race, contributed money, a team of runners and 10 bags of groceries. While the Second Harvest financial donation tally isn’t in yet, the race collected an impressive 2173 pounds of food. “We are delighted at the turnout for this year’s event,” said Airport Authority Chairman Steve Showfety, “And, we are grateful to the community for supporting this worthy cause. We hold this event to give people an opportunity to get to know their local airport from a different perspective, and we are always gratified at the generosity of our sponsors and our participants.”
      Generosity and support are a part of the corporate culture at AMG, which has assisted Greensboro Urban Ministry over the last several years. “AMG understands the need to support local charities like The Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC, Greensboro Urban Ministry and Open Door Ministries,” said Paul Mengert, President of AMG, commercial pilot and PTI Airport Director and Treasurer. “It is sad that there are families without ample food in the Triad. This is a way we can help.”
     To learn more about Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC, visit http://www.hungernwnc.org. For information about Greensboro Urban Ministry, go to http://greensborourbanministry.org/. To explore Open Door Ministry, see http://www.odm-hp.org/.

You can contact Paul at:

Paul Mengert
Association Management Group
614 W Friendly Ave, Greensboro, North Carolina 27401
(888) 908-4264
pmengert@amgworld.com
www.AMGworld.com

Association Management Group’s Paul Mengert Soars for Hospital Patients Needing Transport

Dan Hennigan isn’t used to facing The Impossible. The retired army officer, retired corporate executive and, now, full-time professional volunteer has spent his entire life Making Things Happen. But, Dan and his 35-year-old software engineer son Brian, who suffers from the rare blood disease anterior vascular malformations, needed transport from their local Columbia, SC hospital to Durham, NC’s Duke University Hospital for much-needed treatment and consultation...fast. Lucky for Dan and Brian, Paul Mengert likes to Make Things Happen too. Mengert, President of AMG, Association Management Group in Greensboro, one of the Carolinas’ largest professional homeowners association managers, flew the Hennigans to Duke and back as a volunteer pilot with Angel Flight Soars, a non-profit organization based in Atlanta that recruits pilots to fly medical missions throughout the south. “Paul and Angel Flight Soars made something happen in hours that usually takes weeks and we’re so grateful,” Hennigan said. “Paul’s personality was refreshing and he was very sensitive to the situation. It’s easy to understand why he’s a successful entrepreneur: he’s a caring and giving person.”


      Since 1983, Angel Flight Soars has connected more than 32,000 families to life-saving medical care: from burn victims needing skin grafts to cancer patients traveling to special treatment centers to hopeful recipients awaiting transplant organs. AFS flies more than 2500 missions a year with 1000 pilot volunteers. “Paul joined us in 2009 and is an amazing volunteer. We’re so happy he spends his off time helping other people,” said Bernadette Darnell, AFS Director of Mission Operations. “Paul is a backbone of our organization. Thanks to his tireless dedication and passion for our patients, we are able to be a silver lining to families who need assistance with medical care.”

      Mengert enjoys pairing aviation with service. Along with delivering patients to the care they need via AFS, his high-flying adventures include multiple trips to deliver beds, toys and clothes to an orphanage in Haiti. “Angel Flight Soars is one of the ways AMG gives back to the community,” Mengert noted. “Over the last five years, I have flown various patients to and from medical treatments. We make travel doable by turning five to ten hours of driving into just an hour’s flight. I always fly conservatively but, particularly with Angel Flights, I try to avoid bumpy weather whenever possible, even if it means flying a little out of the way. I also like to make sure the landings are really smooth; I know these passengers are often hurting and don’t need any more aggravation. It feels good to help patients get expert medical treatment at locations they otherwise would not be able to travel to.” Mengert is quick to point out that a wide variety of aeronautical service companies support Angel Flight Soars and deserve a shout-out for the Hennigan flight. Landmark Aviation waived fees and discounted fuel at both their Greensboro and Raleigh/Durham, NC locations and Eagle Aviation of Columbia, SC was an instrumental partner in the transport.

      “Saying ‘thank you’ is not enough,” Hennigan concluded. “I know the difference between ‘I’ll look into it’ and ‘I’ll make it happen.’ Paul and the AFS crew really connected with our need. When need and intention come together, it works. In my world of charity and 9-11 work, it’s a great feeling to help somebody. It’s not so much how much you give but when you give that makes the difference. This was a case of perfect timing.” For more about Angel Flight Soars, to volunteer as a pilot, request a flight or make a donation, visit www.angelflightsoars.org or call 1.877.4anAngel.

You can contact Paul at:

Paul Mengert
Association Management Group
614 W Friendly Ave, Greensboro, North Carolina 27401
(888) 908-4264
pmengert@amgworld.com
www.AMGworld.com