Pilot cited for work with Lou Gehrig’s Disease

Southwest Airlines recently honored pilot and Kyrene Corridor resident Frank Schmuck for his contribution to the community: a three-year-long raising effort for the life-ebbing disease most commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

As official sponsor of Phoenix Suns basketball, Southwest Airlines uses Suns games to recognize employees who have made outstanding contributions to their community through their volunteer efforts.

Schmuck, who works for Southwest, was honored at the Dec. 28 game.

Schmuck has devoted the past three years to developing Voices Take Flight, an annual benefit concert and awards dinner that raises money for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a deadly disease that unfortunately strikes Gulf War Veterans more than most.

Each year Schmuck has invited a different branch of the military to perform in a concert that can be enjoyed by ALS patients, civilians and military.

This year’s Voices Take Flight concert will feature the U.S. Military Academy Glee Club along with the ASU Concert Choir and the Xavier Preparatory School Honor Choir.

Program sponsors say Schmuck’s goal is to not only raise awareness of ALS and generate funds to help support the works of the ALS Association but to thank the people are involved in perpetuating the association’s efforts.

His work inspired the Schow-Donnelly Award for exemplary service before self, presented each year at the Voices Take Flight awards banquet. This year’s banquet will be Saturday, March 6.

Past recipients include U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi, Ross Perot and Curt and Shonda Schilling.

Both Prinicipi and Perot will be on hand to present this year’s awards.

Information: (480) 831 0558.

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