It’s more than just a job. It’s a mission.
“The most important, powerful, and valuable asset we have is our people, and we have an incredible team at LifeFlight.” – Joe Kellner, CEO
The LifeFlight staff and crew consists of more than 140 individuals who take great pride in caring for the people of Maine. Whether they work in an ambulance, helicopter, airplane, or in an office, each LifeFlight employee is committed to ensuring that everyone, in every community in the state, has access to critical care and medical transport.
As a nonprofit, LifeFlight provides services to patients regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay for the cost of medical care. However, the cost of delivering air medical care is significant and only becoming more so.
LifeFlight relies on donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations to keep its assets flying. And among LifeFlight’s generous donors and supporters are a significant portion of its own team.
On top of working day and night providing ICU-level care, in 2025, team members shared they wanted to do more to help LifeFlight. In response, the LifeFlight Foundation created the Employee Giving Program. The program provides employees the opportunity to support LifeFlight directly through payroll deductions. To LifeFlight’s leadership team, it matters less how big these deductions are — they could be 50 cents a paycheck or 100 dollars. What matters more is the statement it makes, that these employees, who are the lifeblood of this organization, believe in its mission so fiercely they themselves donate to help fund capital investments.
“We had great engagement for the inaugural year of our Employee Giving Program, with employees from all different teams enrolling in payroll deductions,” said Ashley MacMillan, Director of Annual Giving at the LifeFlight Foundation. “It’s exciting to see the program grow and to learn why team members choose to donate to specific funds.”
Employees have the option to choose where their contributions are directed. For example, an employee may want to support our Greatest Need Fund, which allocates resources to the most immediate need at LifeFlight — such as an unexpected replacement of an essential piece of equipment.
If an employee feels passionate about a particular aspect of LifeFlight, they may choose to direct their donations to a more specific fund, such as providing medical equipment for crews, or education and training for LifeFlight personnel and EMS professionals in the state. Other funds include our Elevate Program, which supports the well-being and mental health of employees, or our Aviation Fund, which goes toward aviation-related expenses.
Currently, 22 employees donate directly to LifeFlight through payroll deductions. Participation has been steadily increasing. Chelsea Kiger, a critical care transport EMT, allocates a portion of her paychecks toward LifeFlight’s Greatest Need Fund.
“I think it’s an awesome way to help support the organization. There are so many things from equipment, education, and assets that go into this organization to help it run as smoothly as possible,” shared Chelsea. “In my role, I see what the clinical crews do daily to help the people of our community be in the best condition they can be from point A to point B. So, it seemed like the logical allocation for me to choose since it will be dispersed as LifeFlight of Maine grows and continues its mission.”
Other LifeFlight team members choose to support the organization through their participation in the Cross for LifeFlight. The annual event is a self- directed outdoor challenge for individuals and teams and relies on peer-to-peer fundraising to raise critically needed funds.
After working twelve-hour shifts, crew members run, walk, hike, swim, and bike hundreds of miles to raise funds and awareness for LifeFlight during the month of August. In 2025, the Crew Team was the biggest it’s ever been. Together, 25 crew and family members raised more than $23,000 to support LifeFlight.
Melissa Dufault, a flight nurse who has participated on the Crew Team for multiple years, has Crossed hundreds of miles to raise support for LifeFlight
“Supporting LifeFlight is important to me because I truly believe in our mission, and I’m lucky enough to be a part of people’s stories when LifeFlight is being dispatched,” said Melissa, who earned the 2024 Founder’s Prize for her fundraising efforts.
David Humm, Chair of the LifeFlight Foundation’s Board of Trustees, says the Board also recognizes the critical role that LifeFlight plays in Maine’s increasingly fractured healthcare system.
“As Chairman, I am proud of the work our Board is able to accomplish to ensure LifeFlight can continue to serve the people of Maine,” said David. “Every Board member gives 100 percent, both in their time and their monetary donations to LifeFlight, which clearly demonstrates their genuine commitment to LifeFlight’s mission.”
