January 2004 Timepieces/News IWC Sponsors Angel Flight Charity Swiss watchmaker helps patients in need International Watch Co. now supports Angel Flight North East, a non-profit organization that provides free air transportation to patients and their families who need medical treatment but can’t afford to travel to receive it. Volunteer pilots donate time, aircraft and flying skills. This is IWC’s first corporate sponsorship in North America and is the largest for the charity. IWC chose the U.S. for its first investment to honor its American heritage: IWC was founded by Florentine Ariosto Jones, originally from the northeastern U.S. “Recognizing that many IWC consumers are also private pilots, we knew they would care about the mission of Angel Flight and want to participate in some way,” says IWC President Eveline Jones. “The goal is to help raise awareness [of Angel Flight] to our community of consumers and the general public.” IWC, New York City; (212) 891-2460, www.iwc.ch. – by Michael Thompson