On December 6, 2007, Hawaiian Airlines, Clear Channel Radio and the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park formally recognize the efforts of all public safety first responders during San Diego’s recent wildfires at a press conference that announced a list of gifts to San Diego County Deputy Sheriffs' Association, San Diego City Firefighters' Association, San Diego Police Officers' Association and the San Miguel Fire Protection District.

“San Diego is very important to me and to Hawaiian Airlines.  People here have been good to us over the years, and seeing how this community mobilized during the wildfire crisis inspired us to look for a way to give back.  We especially wanted to recognize the individual efforts of San Diego’s first responders, many of whom put their own lives at risk to try to keep their neighbors safe,” said Larry Hershfield, chairman of Hawaiian Airlines’ parent company Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.  Mr. Hershfield lives in Rancho Santa Fe; his family, like so many others, was forced to evacuate during the recent fires.

Keoni Wagner, vice president of Hawaiian Airlines, is presenting 300 round-trip tickets from San Diego to Hawaii to the aforementioned organizations – a donation valued well over $105,000.

Clear Channel Radio, represented by program manager Cliff Albert, and the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park, together are contributing 2,000 park tickets, valued at $66,000.  The tickets will allow the public safety first responders and their families to attend the annual “Clear Channel Night” on December 8th, which kicks off the Wild Animal Park’s Festival of Lights.

Augie Ghio, chief of the San Miguel Fire Protection District; Chet Bertell, secretary treasurer of the San Diego City Fire Fighters; Bill Nemec, president of the San Diego Police Officers' Association; and Ernie Carrillo, president of the San Diego County Deputy Sheriffs' Association were all in attendance to receive the gifts on behalf of their organizations’ men and women.

Other guests include Fire Captain with the San Diego City Firefighters’ Association, Eric Kelley, who lost his home while on the field, Dave Cookson and Gary Macphee, officers with the San Diego Police Officers’ Association who have been nominated to receive Hawaiian Airline tickets, and many other public safety first responders who fought the wildfires.

Hawaiian Airlines, Clear Channel Radio and the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park partnered their donations for the press conference on Thursday, December 6, 2007 at Fire Station 28 in San Diego.

This event and coordination of ticket giveaways is made possible by: Hawaiian Airlines, Clear Channel Communications (Channel 933, Star 94.1, US 95.7, 101 KGB, Rock 105.3, AM 600 KOGO, KLSD AM 1360), the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park and BERKMAN. These organizations have led the planning of San Diego’s expression of its gratitude for the immense bravery and sacrifice these men and women displayed during the fires.

Click here to view press conference