How a Private Jet Company and Medical Flight Charity Built a $1.1 Million Partnership

Curtis Edenfield sits in a 21,000 square foot aviation hangar overlooking the Las Vegas Strip, planning the fourth annual SOARéeée fundraiser. His company, Thrive Aviation, will transform this working aircraft facility into a 400-person cocktail party in March 2026. By 2am the night of the event, his team will tear down everything and prep for a 6am departure the next morning.

This isn’t typical nonprofit fundraising. But the results speak clearly: three years, $1.1 million raised, 100% directed to families who need medical flights.

The partnership between Thrive Aviation and Miracle Flights shows what happens when corporate social responsibility moves past check-writing into genuine operational collaboration.

From Southwest Airlines to Private Aviation

Edenfield’s aviation roots run deep. His father flew planes. His mother worked as a flight attendant. When he and his brother attended SMU in Dallas, they split paths in the industry. Edenfield went corporate, joining Southwest Airlines in revenue management. His brother earned his pilot’s license and became a flight instructor.

That split created the foundation for Thrive Aviation.

“I learned a lot at Southwest,” Edenfield says. “Revenue management is basically the pricing on seats. The person in front of you, behind you, left and right all paid a different price.”

But the real education came from Southwest’s culture. With 50,000 to 60,000 employees, the airline maintained cohesion through clearly defined core values. Edenfield watched how those values functioned as “bumper rails” for company decisions, hiring practices, and training programs.

“We never want to be Southwest because you can’t be Southwest,” he explains. “But there’s a lot we want to be like Southwest.”

His brother’s flight instruction work created an unexpected opportunity. Between 2012 and 2017, his brother taught a business owner how to fly while that owner expanded operations across the United States. The owner accumulated six airplanes, placing them with various management companies.

That collection of aircraft became Thrive Aviation when the partners decided to launch their own operation in Las Vegas.

The Partnership Nobody Planned

Robert Sanchez, Vice President of Operations at Miracle Flights, met Edenfield in the early days of Thrive’s Las Vegas expansion. Their offices ended up across the street from each other—literally a baseball throw apart.

They started talking. Miracle Flights provides commercial and private air transportation for children and families traveling to medical care far from home. Thrive manages private jets. Both organizations operated in aviation. Both valued company culture built on clear principles.

“We threw around some wild ideas,” Edenfield recalls.

One of those wild ideas became SOARée.

The concept: host Miracle Flights’ annual fundraiser inside Thrive’s hangar. Open the private jets for tours. Invite 400 people from both networks. End the night by raffling off an all-expenses-paid weekend for three couples, flown to a luxury destination on a Thrive jet.

The first event worked. Then they did it again. And again.

Year one raised funds. Year two raised more. Year three continued the growth. The cumulative total hit $1.1 million. For 2026, they’re aiming for $1 million in a single event.

“There is no other charity event I’ve ever been to that is like this,” Edenfield says. “It’s so unique.”

What Makes SOARée Different

Most nonprofit galas follow a template. Ballroom. Sit-down dinner. Silent auction. Speeches. Dancing.

SOARée throws out the template.

The 21,000 square foot hangar overlooks Las Vegas Boulevard. Guests see the Strip and the Sphere. Private jets sit outside the hangar. Exotic cars are on display. The event runs as a cocktail party, not a seated dinner.

Every attendee receives a raffle ticket at check-in. At the end of the night, Miracle Flights pulls tickets for three couples. Those winners board a Thrive jet for a themed weekend getaway.

Previous destinations: Newport. Beverly Hills. Sonoma wine country. The 2026 event theme is “Palms and Plains” with a Palm Springs destination. The event date: March 27, 2026.

The raffle creates what traditional galas lack—genuine suspense and universal participation. You don’t need to bid. You don’t need to pledge. Just show up, and you’re in the drawing.

But the operational complexity runs deeper than most attendees realize.

The Logistics Nobody Sees

Airport property regulations don’t accommodate events easily. Everything used at SOARée must be brought in: forks, stemware, tables, chairs, extension cords, AV equipment, duct tape.

Setup happens fast. Teardown happens faster.

Kathy, Miracle Flights’ event coordinator, manages vendor choreography to transform a working hangar into an event space without disrupting Thrive’s core business. Jets still fly. Clients still travel. The hangar functions as an active facility, not just a venue.

Last year’s event ended around midnight. Full teardown finished by 2am. A client departure lifted off at 6am.

“It’s a team effort,” Sanchez says. “It really is.”

This operational dance demonstrates something donors and sponsors value: competence. The partnership doesn’t just raise money. It executes at a level that reflects well on both organizations.

Thrive showcases its facility and capabilities. Miracle Flights proves it can deliver sophisticated donor experiences. Sponsors associate their brands with operational excellence, not just charitable intentions.

Culture as Competitive Advantage

Edenfield’s Southwest Airlines experience taught him that culture scales when built on clear values. Thrive adopted that approach from day one.

“At Southwest, they had about 50 to 60,000 employees and just having a set of core values that you can hire and train on—they’re bumper rails for your company,” Edenfield explains.

Sanchez noticed the cultural investment when talking to Thrive’s team. “You can see it. These are things you’ve done and incorporated. It’s clearly paying dividends.”

The cultural alignment between Thrive and Miracle Flights isn’t accidental. Both organizations prioritize operational excellence. Both invest in team development. Both measure success beyond financial metrics.

Edenfield’s guiding principle: “If you’re blessed, be a blessing.”

That philosophy shows up in how Thrive approaches the partnership. They don’t just donate hangar space for a few hours. They integrate SOARée into their operations, accepting the complexity and coordination required.

The partnership works because both organizations do what they say they’ll do. Trust gets built through repeated execution, not mission statements.

The Donor Experience Strategy

SOARée attracts what Sanchez calls “the who’s who in Vegas.” The event draws from both networks—Thrive’s aviation and business contacts, plus Miracle Flights’ existing donor base and sponsors.

The experience design matters.

Private jet tours during the event let donors see aircraft interiors, ask questions, and understand what charter aviation involves. Most attendees will never book a private jet, but the tour creates aspiration and conversation.

Exotic cars add visual interest and photo opportunities. The hangar setting provides unmatched views of the Strip. The raffle creates a shared experience—everyone has equal odds, regardless of donation level.

This democratization of the experience differs from traditional major donor events where recognition and access tier by giving levels. At SOARée, everyone gets the same baseline experience. Enhanced sponsorship opportunities exist, but the core event doesn’t segregate participants by wealth.

The model attracts repeat attendance. Annual themes create variation. New destinations generate curiosity. The event grows through word-of-mouth from attendees who want to bring friends the following year.

Beyond Check-Writing Partnerships

Most corporate-nonprofit partnerships follow predictable patterns. Company writes check. Nonprofit adds logo to website. Both issue press releases. Maybe employees volunteer once.

The Thrive-Miracle Flights partnership operates differently.

Thrive provides venue access, operational support, and the most compelling raffle prize in nonprofit fundraising—a private jet weekend. Miracle Flights brings donor relationships, event planning expertise, and mission credibility.

The value exchange goes both directions.

Thrive gains positive brand association, community visibility, and networking opportunities with Vegas influencers and business leaders. The event showcases their facility and services to potential clients in a low-pressure environment.

Miracle Flights secures a distinctive fundraising platform that differentiates from every other nonprofit gala in Las Vegas. The aviation theme aligns perfectly with their mission of providing medical flights.

Geographic proximity enables frequent coordination. Offices across the street mean quick in-person meetings, facility walkthroughs, and rapid problem-solving when issues emerge.

The partnership evolved from “throwing around wild ideas” to executing a million-dollar annual fundraiser because both organizations committed to multi-year development, not a one-time event.

Why the Model Scales

Three years generated $1.1 million. Year four targets $1 million alone. The growth trajectory suggests this model has room to expand.

Several factors drive scalability:

Unique positioning: No competing event offers private jet tours and weekend giveaways in an aviation hangar overlooking the Strip.

Repeatable systems: Third and fourth year execution gets smoother as teams refine logistics, vendor relationships, and operational timelines.

Network effects: Attendees become ambassadors, bringing new donors and sponsors into subsequent years.

Mission clarity: 100% of funds go directly to families needing medical flights. No overhead allocation confusion.

Partnership authenticity: Aviation company supporting aviation charity creates logical narrative that resonates with donors.

The $1 million single-year goal isn’t arbitrary. It represents the partnership’s belief that they’ve built sufficient brand recognition and donor confidence to double previous performance.

Edenfield’s selection as the 2026 Individual Navigator Honoree adds personal stakes to the goal. The recognition celebrates his role in building the partnership while motivating increased engagement for the March 27 event.

What Donors Fund

Miracle Flights coordinates medical transportation for families traveling to specialized treatment facilities. Children with rare conditions, complex diagnoses, or surgical needs often must travel hundreds or thousands of miles from home.

Commercial flights create financial barriers many families can’t overcome. Even when families afford airfare, they face hotel costs, meals, rental cars, and lost work income.

Miracle Flights removes the transportation barrier. Families submit applications through miracleflights.org. Approved requests receive flight coordination at no cost to the family.

The SOARée partnership ensures those flights continue. Every dollar raised at the March event funds actual flights, not administrative costs or overhead.

This direct impact story simplifies donor decision-making. Attendees know exactly what their participation supports. The raffle prize demonstrates the service Miracle Flights provides—just at a larger scale than most medical flights require.

The 2026 Event Build

Palm Springs. “Palms and Plains.” March 27, 2026.

Planning for the fourth SOARée started months ago. The theme influences decor, catering choices, promotional materials, and sponsor package designs. The destination shapes raffle winner expectations and prize value perceptions.

Thrive’s team will coordinate aircraft availability, hangar preparation, and operational scheduling around the event. Miracle Flights will manage donor outreach, ticket sales, sponsor recruitment, and volunteer coordination.

The goal: 400 attendees, expanded sponsor participation, and $1 million raised.

Edenfield’s honoree status adds weight to sponsor recruitment. Companies want association with recognized business leaders. His aviation industry credibility and Thrive’s growth story create compelling sponsor value propositions.

Volunteers will staff registration, manage jet tours, coordinate raffle ticket distribution, and support setup and teardown. SOARée has become a volunteer magnet for Miracle Flights because the event offers interesting responsibilities beyond typical nonprofit volunteer roles.

The March timeline positions SOARée early in the nonprofit fundraising calendar, avoiding competition with fall gala season. Spring weather in Las Vegas cooperates with outdoor hangar elements and aircraft displays.

Lessons from Three Years

The partnership’s success offers insights for other organizations exploring corporate collaborations:

Asset-based partnerships create more value than cash-only relationships. Thrive’s hangar and aircraft generate experiences money can’t buy at any budget level.

Geographic proximity enables collaboration depth. Quick meetings and facility access matter more than people realize when executing complex events.

Cultural alignment predicts partnership longevity. Shared values around operational excellence and mission focus kept both organizations engaged when coordination got difficult.

Multi-year commitment builds ROI. Year one establishes systems. Year two refines. Year three and beyond compound returns.

Authentic thematic alignment resonates with donors. Aviation company supporting aviation charity makes intuitive sense, reducing the skepticism corporate partnerships sometimes generate.

Experiential elements differentiate fundraising. Private jet tours and exotic prizes create stories attendees share, generating organic marketing traditional events lack.

Operational competence builds donor confidence. Executing a complex event inside a working hangar demonstrates capability that transfers to mission delivery perception.

Transparent fund allocation simplifies donor decisions. “100% to families” removes objections and confusion about overhead.

Looking Forward

The $1 million goal for March 27, 2026 represents more than fundraising ambition. It signals that both organizations believe they’ve built something sustainable.

Edenfield’s honoree recognition comes from Miracle Flights’ gratitude but also creates accountability. His name and reputation now tie directly to the event’s success.

The partnership started with Curtis and Robert throwing around ideas across the street from each other. It grew into Miracle Flights’ largest fundraiser and Thrive Aviation’s most visible community engagement.

Neither organization planned this outcome in 2017 when Thrive moved to Las Vegas. They discovered alignment through proximity, conversation, and willingness to try something different from typical nonprofit-corporate relationships.

The aviation hangar will transform again in March. Jets will tour. Cars will gleam. Four hundred people will gather. Three couples will win a weekend in Palm Springs.

And families across the country will receive the medical flights they need.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the SOARée fundraiser different from traditional nonprofit galas?

SOARée takes place in a 21,000 square foot private aviation hangar overlooking the Las Vegas Strip, not a hotel ballroom. Every attendee receives a raffle ticket for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid weekend for two, flown on a private jet donated by Thrive Aviation. The event includes private jet tours, exotic car displays, and a cocktail party format instead of a seated dinner. The venue creates an experiential environment that traditional galas can’t replicate.

How much money has the Thrive Aviation partnership raised for Miracle Flights?

The partnership has raised $1.1 million over three years (2023-2025). The 2026 event, scheduled for March 27, has a goal of raising $1 million in a single year. All funds go directly to providing medical flights for families traveling to specialized care facilities.

Why did Thrive Aviation decide to partner with Miracle Flights specifically?

The partnership made sense because both organizations operate in aviation. Thrive manages private jets, and Miracle Flights coordinates medical air transportation. The thematic alignment creates authenticity. Geographic proximity also played a role—their offices sit across the street from each other in Las Vegas, enabling close collaboration. Cultural values around operational excellence and mission focus aligned from the start.

What happens to families who receive assistance from Miracle Flights?

Families can submit applications through miracleflights.org when they need to travel for medical care far from home. Miracle Flights coordinates commercial or private air transportation at no cost to the family. This removes financial barriers that prevent children and families from accessing specialized treatment for rare conditions, complex diagnoses, or surgical needs.

How does hosting an event in a working aircraft hangar actually work?

Everything used at the event must be brought in and removed: tables, chairs, catering equipment, AV systems, extension cords, even forks and stemware. Airport property regulations add complexity. Setup happens quickly before the event, and teardown completes by 2am to allow normal flight operations to resume. Last year, a client departure took off at 6am the morning after the event. The logistics require detailed coordination between Thrive’s operations team and Miracle Flights’ event staff.

What do SOARée attendees experience during the event?

Guests tour private jets, view exotic cars, enjoy cocktails and food in a hangar overlooking the Strip and the Sphere, and receive a raffle ticket upon entry. The event runs as a cocktail party with approximately 400 attendees drawn from both organizations’ networks. At the end of the night, Miracle Flights selects three couples who board a Thrive jet for a themed weekend getaway. Each year features a different theme and destination.

Can companies replicate this partnership model in other cities?

The model works when authentic alignment exists between partners. Aviation companies supporting aviation charities makes intuitive sense, but the principles apply broadly: asset-based partnerships (not just cash), cultural values alignment, geographic proximity for coordination, multi-year commitment for system development, and experiential elements that differentiate from standard fundraising approaches. The key is finding natural thematic connections between the corporate partner’s capabilities and the nonprofit’s mission.

What made Curtis Edenfield the right choice for 2026 Individual Navigator Honoree?

Edenfield co-founded Thrive Aviation and has been instrumental in building the partnership since the early days. His aviation industry background (family legacy and Southwest Airlines experience) combined with his “if you’re blessed, be a blessing” philosophy demonstrates the values Miracle Flights wants to celebrate. His leadership enabled Thrive to commit operational resources, facility access, and long-term partnership focus that made SOARée possible.

How can someone attend SOARée or support Miracle Flights?

The 2026 SOARée event takes place March 27 in Las Vegas. Ticket information becomes available through Miracle Flights’ website and social channels. People can also support Miracle Flights by donating directly at miracleflights.org, volunteering at events, or spreading awareness about medical flight assistance for families in need. SOARée itself offers volunteer opportunities for people who want hands-on involvement in the event.

What does 100% of funds going to families actually mean?

Every dollar raised at SOARée pays for actual flight coordination and transportation for families traveling to medical care. Miracle Flights covers operational costs through separate funding streams, allowing SOARée proceeds to fund direct services. This allocation transparency simplifies donor decision-making and builds confidence that contributions create immediate, measurable impact.