EAGLES WINGS FOUNDATION NEWS

Palm Beacher's group called model in disaster relief

By MICHELE DARGAN
Daily News Staff Writer

Saturday, October 20, 2007

U.S. Rep. Ron Klein is among four South Florida congressmen encouraging the Federal Emergency Management Agency to supplement its efforts by using volunteer groups trained to help victims of natural disasters.

The lawmakers pointed to The Eagles Wings Foundation, founded by Palm Beach landscaper Scott Lewis, as a model group. The faith-based, nonprofit foundation is set up to aid disaster victims in the United States and the Caribbean.

"We focus on searching out the homebound victims with special needs, especially the elderly and disabled," Lewis said.

A former volunteer firefighter with 25 years emergency management experience, Lewis formed the foundation after his 1999 experience helping with relief efforts after Hurricane Floyd hit the Bahamas.

Since 1999, Lewis and his group have helped with hurricanes Charlie on Florida's Gulf Coast, Frances and Jeanne in South Florida, Ivan in Haiti, and Katrina in Mississippi.

Klein, D-Boca Raton, who represents Palm Beach, South Palm Beach and Manalapan, was joined by U.S. Reps. Tim Mahoney, D-Palm Beach Gardens; Robert Wexler, D-Delray Beach; and Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar, in signing the Oct. 18 letter to FEMA administrator R. David Paulison.

"We're still in the middle of hurricane season, and the South Florida congressmen got together and recognized the need," said Adrienne Elrod, Klein's spokeswoman. "This organization is South Florida based and provides a vital service helping the elderly get out of harm's way after a disaster. Most importantly, they want to point out that this foundation should be used as a model for other organizations. This is a group with a proven track record."

In their letter, the congressmen pointed to the group's efforts following Katrina.

"Using a unified command with a large National Guard force, this private team, supported by a host of volunteer groups coordinated by The Eagles Wings Foundation, touched over 125,000 victims in Gulfport and Biloxi, Miss., in just 14 days," the congressmen wrote.

Lewis arrived in Gulfport six days after Katrina hit and stayed 15 days. He organized 500 volunteers, working side-by-side with National Guardsmen. He described his organization as "a remarkable group of volunteers who will drop everything on a moment's notice and go to a disaster."

Lewis said he has since been working with the National Guard at its headquarters in Washington, planning and analyzing how this kind of cooperation can better work after future disasters.

Information about the volunteer group can be found at www.theeagleswingsfoundation.org.

Mary Hulitar of Palm Beach said she is an avid supporter of Lewis' foundation. Hulitar, who uses Lewis' landscape services, said she likes donating to the organization because all of the money goes toward the actual relief efforts.

"There are no office expenses," Hulitar said. "There are no salaries paid. It's caregiving from the heart."