CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, officially proclaimed the week of Oct. 16-22, 2023, Pilot International Founders Week in Cullman. On-hand to accept the proclamation were Cullman Pilot Club members Peggy Harris, Beverly Wilkerson, Julie Burks, Katherine Anderson and Stefani Nelson.
“Pilot International is a great organization,” said Jacobs. “I recently had the privilege of speaking to our local Pilot Club, and I am honored to present this proclamation to them today in appreciation of Pilot Club members in our community and around the world.”
Pilot International was chartered on Oct. 18, 1921, in Macon, Georgia, by a group of civic-minded business leaders who combined their diverse talents in the Pilot principles of “Friendship and Service” to improve the quality of life in communities throughout the world. To celebrate the club’s founding and to honor the history and tradition of the organization, Oct. 18 is set aside every year as Pilot International Founders Day. This year marks its 102nd anniversary!
Today, Pilot International is comprised of thousands of members around the world who are dedicated to giving back to their communities. And through their sponsorship of the Anchor Club and Compass Club, Pilot International also fosters #volunteerism in thousands of young people worldwide, calling on them to “do more, care more and be more.”
Pilot International’s mission is to influence positive change in communities, and they do that in many ways. With a focus on encouraging #brainsafety and #brainhealth and supporting those who care for others, Pilot International provides scholarships and grants to support research, education and community care-giving programs. They also partner with Project Lifesaver, Brain Injury Association of America and other organizations.
The Pilot Club of Cullman is very much involved in our community. Some local projects that the Cullman Pilot Club are involved with include:
- Pilot Light Home: This was the Cullman Pilot Club’s first community service project. Developed in 1982, the Pilot Light Home provides safe shelter, food and clothing for children in need in our community.
- Margaret Jean Jones Center: The Margaret Jean Jones Center provides day-time care and attention for adults with brain-related disorders. Local Pilots provide entertainment, books, cookouts, refreshments and story-telling, and more for the attendees. Pilots also throw a Christmas party each year for the attendees of the center.
- Field Of Miracles: The Cullman Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism’s Field of Miracles is a multi-use sports complex featuring the Miracle League Field, a rubberized field surface that can accommodate athletes of all capacities. Pilots provide support and encouragement for Field of Miracles participants as well as scholarship money for those who may not be able to participate in the local Miracle League Baseball program.
- Alabama’s Special Camp for Children and Adults (Camp ASCCA): This is a place where campers with disabilities can participate in horseback riding, swimming, canoeing, fishing, arts and crafts, water sliding, water tubing and other camping activities in a safe environment. Cullman Pilots, along with other Alabama District Pilot International Clubs, raise money to support building and maintaining this nationally recognized therapeutic recreation facility.
- Alzheimer’s Support Group: Sponsored by Cullman Regional Medical Center, this support group is for caregivers of family or friends with Alzheimer’s. Cullman Pilots provide refreshments and a program for this group, as well as friendship and conversation.
- Pilot International: The Pilot Club of Cullman contributes funds to support the overall focus of Pilot International: Brain safety, brain research and assistance to those living with brain-related disorders, injuries or disabilities.
“We appreciate the Pilot Club’s support of the Field of Miracles and the countless other projects they have sponsored or supported in Cullman throughout the years,” said Mayor Jacobs. “They are a great force for good in our community.”
In the Pilot International Founders Week proclamation, Mayor Jacobs encouraged citizens to learn more about Pilot International and about our local Pilot Club of Cullman. To find out more about the Pilot Club of Cullman visit www.facebook.com/cullmanpilotclub or send an email to CullmanPilotClub@gmail.com.
Other resources include:
•Pilot International: www.pilotinternational.org
•Alabama District Pilot International: www.alabamadistrictpilot.com
•Pilot International Founders Fund: www.pilotinternational.org/pilot-international-founders-fund
