A veteran aviation manager has launched nonprofit Wings of Love, which is dedicated to raising funds for and providing assistance to children who have lost parents in aircraft accidents. Founder Anna Lovelace, who is also a senior account manager at Universal Weather and Aviation, rolled out Wings of Love in late March after years of laying the groundwork for the organization and said it has already received initial sponsorships and family referrals.

Lovelace said she has seen firsthand the effect of an aircraft crash on surviving children: in 2016 she lost her brother, World Fuel sales executive Eric Grace, and his wife to the crash of a Piper Cherokee Six in the Houston area. They left behind two children and “their world was turned upside down,” she said.

The idea for the nonprofit came to her a few years later during an event where an executive had mentioned establishing a nonprofit for children who lost parents in the line of duty. “It made me wonder who does that for kids when they've lost a parent in an aviation-related accident?”

Concerning Lovelace is that an average of more than 400 aviation fatalities occur each year. “Unfortunately, it is something that happens quite often,” she said. “And I think people don't really realize it because it doesn't get a lot of media. You see it locally, but you definitely don't see it nationwide.”

She added that many people take for granted that everyone has life insurance. “There are cases where people don’t,” she said. “We can’t just assume everyone’s going to be well off.” People don’t see the long-term struggles of those left behind, she said.

Lovelace, who is president of Wings of Love, founded the organization with Kristin Gilliam, v-p and treasurer who also is a Universal Weather senior account manager, and Michelle Sacks, who is serving as secretary and provides training at the Houston Area Women's Center.

The nonprofit is establishing different levels and tiers of sponsorship, from individual and corporate to those wishing to sponsor a specific family.

“In just the first week, I feel like we’ve had such great interest in it,” she said of the launch. “People are asking how they can help.”

Lovelace said the organization has begun to reach out to multiple organizations, from OEMs to the National Transportation Safety Board, on building the charity. She also is looking to raise visibility to provide assistance to affected families. Donations can go toward basic needs, schooling, emotional assistance, or any other kind of support.

Plans are in the works for hosting a launch fundraising party, potential in July, followed by other events such as a golf outing later in the year.