VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- The International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) at its 47th annual convention awarded Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana the air show industry’s top award for community relations tonight in Las Vegas in front of over 800 air show industry professionals attending the event’s Chairman’s Banquet.
The military installation’s 55th annual air show event earned the Dick Schram Memorial Community Relations Award by bringing together five Virginia Beach-based nonprofit organizations – The Navy Wounded Warrior Safe Harbor Program, Wounded Wear, Skydive Suffolk, The Noblemen, and the USO – along with the Navy and Marine Corp. Exceptional Family Member Program, to provide a significant number of deserving people and groups with a positive and inspiring weekend of family entertainment. The local and regional impact of the show, which attracts over 300,000 spectators, noticeably raises the public’s awareness of charitable and service organizations that exist to support those in need.
Throughout 2014’s two-day event, kids with special needs interacted with Navy pilots, wounded warriors were treated to “Jumping for a Purpose” skydives into the air show itself, and wounded sailors and Coast Guardsmen embraced the chance to educate the public.
To complement NAS Oceana’s outreach efforts with local charities and special needs programs, the air base leadership and show organizers built invaluable partnerships with the Virginia Beach city government, police, fire, and emergency medical services, each of which dedicated personnel to the show’s planning and execution.
“That all of these diverse entities came together to produce this event is a testament to positive community relationships,” said John Cudahy, ICAS president. “NAS Oceana and its surrounding community have forged an alliance keenly focused on meeting their core objectives of local interaction and participation and communicating the air station’s mission.”
The annual NAS Oceana Air Show represents the U.S. Navy’s largest and most popular East Coast open house and community outreach event drawing visitors from 29 states and 13 countries. Since 1988, the International Council of Air Shows has presented the Dick Schram Memorial Community Relations Award to the one military air show, open house or flying event that best represents the spirit of community for which Dick Schram stood throughout his naval career.
About the International Council of Air Shows
Headquartered in Leesburg, Va., ICAS was founded in 1968 as a trade and professional association by industry professionals to protect and promote their interests in the growing North American air show marketplace. ICAS is dedicated to building and sustaining a vibrant air show industry to support its membership. The organization was created to maintain safety, to serve as an information resource on air show issues for those within and outside the industry, to provide for the training and continuing education needs of ICAS members and air show professionals generally, and to promote the air show industry to the media, corporate North America and the general public.
Media Contact
Matt Warnock, International Council of Air Shows
703-779-8510
