Yankees Honor Alumnus Brian Worthington during Hope Week's Fifth Day at Vaughn, New York
On June 20th, the New York Yankees players and coaching staff visited Vaughn College as part of the Yankees HOPE Week Initiative, a week-long community outreach program that began in 2009. The aim of this ambitious project is to send the message that everyone can give of themselves to make their community a better place.
During the visit, the Yankees players and college students had the opportunity to engage in various activities. They toured the tower and hangar at Vaughn College, and both groups used the Redbird Flight and air traffic controller simulators. The event concluded with a $10,000 donation from the New York Yankees Foundation to the New York Metro Black Pilots Association (NYMBA), a non-profit organisation that supports and promotes Black aviators in the New York metropolitan area.
The founder of NYMBA, Brian Worthington, is a Vaughn alumni and a local resident of Queens. Worthington, who currently serves as a helicopter pilot for the NYPD, opened his own flight school called Flight Kings at Republic Executive Airport on Long Island. He uses his small planes to instruct students of colour, most of the costs coming out of pocket.
Worthington's own hurdles he faced achieving his dream inspired him to be a resource for Black children of similar circumstances. His passion for aviation led him to create a safe space for Black aviators and aspiring pilots, providing mentorship, networking, education, and advocacy to increase diversity and inclusion in the industry.
The partnership between the NYMBA and the New York Yankees is part of a larger effort to expose youth to careers in aviation and offer mentorship opportunities. The collaboration focuses on creating visibility for Black aviators as role models, inspiring the next generation to pursue their dreams in the skies.
In addition to Worthington, Trent Grisham, Jasson Domínguez, Oswald Peraza, JT Brubaker, Yerry de los Santos, Matt Blake, and Travis Chapman were among the Yankees present at the event. Their visit not only provided an inspiring day for the students at Vaughn College but also highlighted the importance of community involvement and mentorship in shaping the future of aviation.
- The partnership between the New York Yankees and the New York Metro Black Pilots Association (NYMBA) expands beyond their shared visit to Vaughn College, aiming to expose youth to careers in aviation and offer mentorship opportunities.
- In addition to promoting aviation maintenance and control, the collaboration between the New York Yankees and NYMBA emphasizes the significance of sports figures like Trent Grisham, Jasson Domínguez, Oswald Peraza, JT Brubaker, Yerry de los Santos, Matt Blake, Travis Chapman, and others as role models, inspiring the next generation to pursue their dreams in various fields, including sports.
- Brian Worthington, a Vaughn alumni, helicopter pilot for the NYPD, and founder of Flight Kings, utilizes his experience in aviation maintenance and his passion for the sport to provide mentorship, networking, education, and advocacy for Black aviators and aspiring pilots, employing his small planes to help students of color break barriers and pursue careers in aviation.
