Pilots For Kids
GRR Coordinators
Brian Theisen
brianstheisen[at]gmail.com
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News
2025 PFK's Date Announcemnt
Last updated 2 months agoHello everyone.
Time is flying and we are quickly approaching our events. The dates are finalized, and listed below. We have gifts left over from last year so if you would like to contribute, please make a tax-deductible donation (Information Below). As your December schedules come out, please let me know if you are able to attend either of our events.
Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids
1806 Bridge ST. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Date: Thursday December 18th 4:30-7:30
Our Gilda event will look very similar to our events of the past. Arrival will be around 4:30 to set up for the event. We will serve dinner to all of the family members and then the youth groups will join us for the Holiday Party. This will be out big event of the year so we will need as many volunteers as possible.
Helen DeVos
100 Michigan ST NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Date: Tuesday December 16th 1:30-4:00
For the Helen DeVos event we will participate in Blue Glass Live from the television studios in the hospital. The program consists of Bingo and some other type of aviation themed game. We will play host and interact with the kids virtually while they stream the show live to the rooms. Arrival time will be at 1:30-1:45pm behind the main lobby desk. The planned game time is an hour and then we will hand out prizes to the winners. There will also be an opportunity to visit other kid’s rooms to distribute other gifts. This event will be smaller and only require 4-5 members.
Funding/Gifts
Thank you again everyone who contributed last year. As I stated above, we have plenty of gifts left over from last year so if you would like to contribute, please make a tax-deductible contribution this year. This will go directly to the funding of the events. I hope to bring back the Amazon Wish List next year once we give away last year’s remaining gifts. To make a donation go to the GRR chapter of Pilots for Kids website. The address is below, once on the page click on donate on the left side bottom. Please make sure that GRR is selected in the drop-down menu below Direct my Donation To. That way the money goes directly to our chapter.
Grr.pilotsforkids.org (Donations via Pilot 4 Kids website-Tax deductible)
I still hope to try and establish an event with Mary Free Bed. I have reached out to them but have still yet to hear back. If anyone has a contact there, please let me know.
I look forward to seeing those of you who are able to attend and appreciate the local community that we have established. This group makes a difference for the children who are going through a hard time!
Upcoming Events
Helen DeVos Children's Hospital 2025
Tuesday, December 16th, 2025 - 13:30 to 16:00 ESTFor the Helen DeVos event we will participate in Blue Glass Live from the television studios in the hospital. The program consists of Bingo and some other type of aviation themed game. We will play host and interact with the kids virtually while they stream the show live to the rooms. Arrival time will be at 1:30-1:45pm behind the main lobby desk. The planned game time is an hour and then we will hand out prizes to the winners. There will also be an opportunity to visit other kid’s rooms to distribute other gifts. This event will be smaller and only require 4-5 members.
Dress Code: Uniform
Get Directions: 100 Michigan ST NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503
RSVP: Please RSVP once your December Schedule is our
Gilda's Club Grand Rapids 2025
Thursday, December 18th, 2025 - 16:30 to 19:30 ESTOur Gilda event will look very similar to our events of the past. Arrival will be around 4:30 to set up for the event. We will serve dinner to all of the family members and then the youth groups will join us for the Holiday Party. This will be out big event of the year so we will need as many volunteers as possible.
Dress Code: Uniform
Get Directions: 1806 Bridge ST. NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504
RSVP: Please RSVP once your December Schedules Come out
Past Events
Events from the past year are displayed here. Please check below this section to see if pictures from these events are posted!
Gilda's Club 2024
Wednesday, December 11th, 2024 - 16:30 to 19:30 EST1806 Bridge ST. NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504 Date: Wednesday December 11th 4:30-7:30 Our Gilda event will look very similar to our events of the past. Arrival will be around 4:30 to set up for the event. We will serve dinner to all of the family members and then the youth groups will join us for the Holiday Party. This will be out big event of the year so we will need as many volunteers as possible.
Dress Code: Uniform
Get Directions: 1806 Bridge ST. NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504
RSVP: Please Contact Me
Helen DeVos Children Hospital 2024
Monday, December 2nd, 2024 - 13:30 to 16:00 ESTHelen DeVos 100 Michigan ST NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Date: Monday December 2nd 1:30-4:00 For the Helen DeVos event we will participate in Blue Glass Live from the television studios in the hospital. The program consists of Bingo and some other type of aviation themed game. We will play host and interact with the kids virtually while they stream the show live to the rooms. Arrival time will be at 1:30-1:45pm behind the main lobby desk. The planned game time is an hour and then we will hand out prizes to the winners. There will also be an opportunity to visit other kid’s rooms to distribute other gifts. I was hoping to return to a lobby party of the past but was informed that they are not having many lobby parties. They are seeing much less participation in the lobby due to kids being more ill than the past years. They had a Make A Wish event in the lobby recently and only 15 kids were able to attend. With that in mind I decided it would be better to put more into visiting the patient’s rooms after the Blue Glass Live. This event will be smaller and only require 4-5 members
Dress Code: Uniform
Get Directions: 100 Michigan ST NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503
RSVP: Please Contact me
Photo Gallery
Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital 2022
Helen DeVos Children's Hospital December 16th. Our volunteers played Guess the Airline Logo and Christmas Movie Bingo via TV with patients. We broadcasted live directly from the hospital's television studio to the kids hospital rooms. If the kids had a guess or won bingo they would phone in and pick a prize.
Gilda Club 2022
Gilda Club December 14th. Our volunteers provided dinner, games, crafts and a visit from Santa for kids affected by Cancer. They made ornaments, decorated cookies, and played various games.
