At a glittering awards ceremony hosted by Alan Whicker, CBE, at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, Maria Benson, Manager of Continental Airlines’ “We Care” program, was presented with the OAG Outstanding Service Award 2006 for her dedication and inspiring leadership during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The OAG Outstanding Service Award, a special category in the OAG Airline of the Year Awards, is presented to an individual at an airline or airport who is nominated by colleagues for acting above and beyond the call of duty.
In a year marked by unprecedented natural disasters, Maria’s incredible dedication and unfailing positive attitude helped hundreds of people in despair. When the devastating Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Maria immediately mobilized employees to help others. She was on call 24/7 offering assistance and hope.
“We Care” is an internal charitable foundation completely funded by Continental Airlines employees. The plight of their employees based in New Orleans was a microcosm of what happened to thousands of people in the wake of the disaster. Many of the airline’s staff there lost everything they owned and were separated from family and loved ones.
Maria travelled hundreds of miles to personally dispatch immediate cash and basic necessities to employees in need, master-minding a clothing drive and seeking out alternative housing. She visited and helped an employee who was evacuated from the floods and went into pre-term labour, many miles from home and with no personal possessions. She arranged for aid and transport for a distraught lady, her elderly mother and young child who had been stranded on a small rooftop for two days. More importantly, Maria’s compassion and care never diminished, no matter how desperate the situation or how exhausted she felt.
Nearly 200 people were helped directly by Maria’s efforts. She worked tirelessly on their behalf for four months following the Hurricane, helping them to rebuild their lives. The daily heroic acts she carried out went far beyond doing her job.
Further Information:
All press enquiries/interview requests should be directed to: Amelie de Richemont at DBA on +44 (0)20 7930 8033, mobile +44 (0)7881 555 818, email dba@nchl.demon.co.uk or Susan Hutchinson for Contintental Airlines at Harrison Cowley on 020 7404 6777.