LCCA - Dec 6 - San Francisco - United Airlines Fantasy Flight Special Event
Wow, what a great event! The United Airlines Fantasy of Flight event held at the San Francisco airport was a huge success. The Lionel Collectors Club of America's was represented by LCCA President Elect Al Kolis & Junior Member coordinator Vincent Kolis. LCCA Members John Rinaldi, along with others in the Golden Gate Lionel Railroad Club (GGLRC) participated in this event by bringing their full modular layout. LCCA member John Rinaldi and the Golden Gate Lionel Railroad Club were at United Airlines departure gate # 82 in San Francisco International Airport, where a 747 took children with life threatening illnesses along with their families on an hour long flight and returned to a terminal decorated as the North Pole. Prior to flight, the families were entertained and experienced the magic of Lionel trains running on the GGLRC toy train layout.
The kids and their Families were surrounded by cheering fans as they boarded and departed the United Airline airport gates. Upon arriving at the North-pole, the children and their families had a chance to meet with Santa Claus and Christmas Carol. It was a great photo opportunity for these families and a highlight for the kids!
This year, The Golden Gate Lionel Railroad Club ( GGLRC) brought their club’s large, highly detailed, portable Lionel toy train layout for all of the children and their families to enjoy. The LCCA donated Lionel wooden train whistles and LCCA Special Events Pins for the children to wear. OGR ( And LCCA member Ed Boyle) donated a box of OGR magazines to families in attendance. Thank you OGR! The GGLRC did a great job entertaining these kids and their families while they were waiting for the plane to depart. The kids were stuffed with candies, holiday cookies and plenty of drinks from the GGLRC’s special Christmas gondolas.
This is a great event intended to spread some holiday cheer with the children suffering with severe illnesses along with their families. The families enjoyed some of the holiday spirit as well as enjoyed the sights, smells and sounds of Lionel trains running on the GGLRC’s layout.
We are looking for other toy train groups with modular layouts that are willing to bring their layouts to other United Airlines' Fantasy of Flight activities in other various cities next year. For more information about this event or if you have an interest in setting up a train layout in a different city or if you would like to donate your time, money or gifts, for next year's event in San Francisco, please contact John Rinaldi at 650-279-8615. Please help spread the magic of Lionel Trains during the holiday season!
United Airlines is also sponsoring similar events in Chicago, Washington Dulles Airport and Pittsburgh, PA. If you want to get involved with these worthwhile endeavors in these other cities, please contact the United Airline Fantasy Flight program atwww.unitedfantasyflight.com
Thank you to John Rinaldi, the Golden Gate Railroad Club, members of the San Francisco 49ers cheerleading squad, OGR, United Airlines and the team of volunteers who worked countless hours to make this worthwhile event such a success. Thank you for your efforts and contributions to support this very worthwhile cause.
Sincerely,
Al Kolis
President Elect & Special Events Manager
Lionel Collectors Club of America
