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OUR STORY

On August 8, 2023, Christine Miller turned on the TV to witness the town of Lahaina on fire. People were running for their lives. Her instinct to help could not be ignored- she had to do something. 

 

Christine first contacted her friend, Corrine, and asked for her help. Corrine responded with a resounding, "Yes!". That is when their work began. 

 

Acknowledging the dangers present at that time and the number of people actively helping on the ground, they decided to postpone their hands-on initiatives until early November. While they waited to travel to the area, they began seeking donations from friends and family. 

 

Coincidentally, Corrine had plans to visit Hawaii herself before the November date for vacation. While Corrine was there, Christine became aware of a need for water and flashlights at LahainaLuna High School. LahainaLuna has a boarding school on property that houses 60 students (30 boys 30 girls). Christine asked Corrine to go to Costco and purchase two pallets of water and the flashlights that were needed for the students- so she did. It was at that time they found out the need was even greater. 

 

One of the challenges that Maui was facing was that it is a small island, and importing affordable goods that were in need was no easy task. The principal of the boarding school shared a list with Corrine of the various items in demand that mainlanders could more easily procure. Christine began purchasing these items on Amazon to send to Maui.

 

Later that evening, Corrine shared stories of her day to several friends at a dinner party. The group encouraged her to start a 501(c)(3) to incentivize additional help- and Angels Have Wings was born. 

 

Angels Have Wings is a nonprofit founded to help people impacted by natural disasters in the United States. 100% of all money raised goes straight to the affected individuals. The founding board members do not receive any income and are responsible for their travel expenses to impacted communities. Angels Have Wings looks forward to making a difference in the lives of those who are suffering from tragedy. 

 

Since its founding in November of 2023, Angels Have Wings has helped over 100 individuals devastated by the Lahaina fires. Through grass-roots efforts they have been connected to over 23 families struggling to get back on their feet after losing their homes and loved ones. The organization plans to keep in touch with these families for the next 1-2 years as they try to find a new normal. The people of Maui have been incredibly touched by the help Angels Have Wings has provided to them so far, and it is only the beginning! 

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Chris Miller

President

Christine was born and raised in San Rafael, California. At the age of 7, she lost her mom to cancer and the local community stepped up to help her and her family. These experiences cultivated her passion for service. She vowed to help others in need- just as it was done for her. 

She married the love of her life in May of 1992 and shortly after, they started a family. This is when Christine started getting more involved in service work. She was heavily involved in the Parent Teacher Associations- actively fundraising for the schools and serving as President.

She continued to participate in volunteer work for the Rotary Club of San Rafael, facilitating the ice cream booth at the Marin County Fair. Christine worked side by side her late father-in-law, Dick Miller, and her husband, Rick. They, as a family, would host exchange students from Japan.

When their children attended Marin Catholic High School, she became the Chair for the annual golf tournament. She also sourced, organized and sold “school-pride” gear at all football games to raise money for the school.

When the Santa Rosa, California fires broke out in 2017, she didn’t hesitate to begin helping. She brought goods to the fairgrounds for the fire victims and would drive meals to feed the National Guard daily. She coordinated the meals by reaching out to local restaurants and community members.

When not actively in service, Christine enjoys spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren. She looks forward to making a difference for all those in need.

Corinne Rice

Vice-President, Treasurer

Corrine Rice, is a dedicated member of Angels Have Wings. During the last 25 years, she has been involved in the non-profit sector working to make a positive impact providing aid to those effected by financial devastation, raising awareness for homeless youth, and assisting people impacted by natural and/or man-made disasters. Through her experience in fundraising and networking along with her passion to create meaningful change, she is committed to contributing to the success and growth of Angels Have Wings.

Throughout Corrine's 25 years of involvement in the non-profit sector, she has developed and gained valuable experience that has shaped her passion for Angels Have Wings.

ne of the highlights of Corrine's non-profit journey was during her October 2023 visit to Maui where she was asked to provide much needed water and flashlights to Lahainaluna High School; where many of the students families were directly affected by the Maui fire. It was from that moment where she was able to personally hand deliver relief and meet the people in need and know and feel she was able to significantly contribute and witness the positive impact it made was where the magic happened. Along with her partner, Chrissy Miller, Angels Have Wings was born!

This hands-on involvement has allowed Corrine to further deepen her understanding of the challenges and opportunities that exist within the non-profit sector.

As a long-time Marin County resident, wife and mother, one of the driving forces behind Corrine's dedication is her unwavering passion that fuels her desire to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those affected by disasters.

Over the years, Corrine has witnessed firsthand the transformative power that nonprofit organizations can have in addressing the pressing issues that our society faces. The stories of individuals whose lives have been positively impacted and the communities that have been uplifted have only strengthened Corrine's commitment to this work.

Corrine believes that passion is contagious and can inspire others to join the cause. By sharing her enthusiasm and knowledge, she hopes to mobilize a community of individuals who are equally committed to working towards common goals.

Throughout Corrine's career in the non-profit sector, she had the privilege of working with various organizations to achieve significant milestones and make a difference in the lives of those we serve.

One of Corrine's most notable achievements was chairing a school fundraising campaign that exceeded its target by 200%! Through strategic planning, innovative marketing techniques, and cultivating strong relationships with donors and school volunteers, she was able to secure the necessary funds to implement much needed funds for the betterment of the school and its programs.

Moving forward, Corrine firmly believes in the power of teamwork and believes that by working together with her partner, Christine Miller, Angels Have Wings, has already began to create lasting change and made a meaningful impact on the lives of those they served.

t the core of Corrine's personal journey is an unwavering commitment to making a difference in the lives of others. Corrine firmly believes that every individual deserves equal opportunities and access to the resources they need to thrive. This belief has shaped her personal values, which drive her to continuously seek out ways to contribute to the betterment of society.

Looking towards the future, Corrine's aspirations lie in further honing her skills and expertise to better serve the mission and goals of Angels Have Wings. While continuously learning and growing, and staying up-to-date with the latest advancements and best practices in the industry.

Corrine's ultimate goal within the non-profit sector is to take on leadership roles where she can contribute to strategy and decision-making processes. She aspires to drive meaningful change at a higher level, leveraging her experience and knowledge guiding organizations towards achieving their social impact goals. Corrine is genuinely excited about the potential collaborations and opportunities that lie ahead with Angels Have Wings. She believes we can empower individuals, create positive change, and make a lasting impact on the world.

Thank you for joining her on this journey. Stay tuned for more updates and insights as Angels Have Wings embarks on their next chapter!

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Cathy Highiet Hunter

Cathy has always thought of herself as Chrissy’s right-hand, helping her with numerous altruistic endeavors through her role as a benefactor. Despite always having a strong desire to donate her time to charitable causes, she was simply unable to do so. She is so pleased to be able to play a more significant role through Angels Have Wings, and help in a more direct and meaningful way.  

Born in Modesto, Cathy escaped to UC Berkeley, where she was active in the Anti-War movement. Cathy now paints for pleasure, loves to travel and explore other cultures, and enjoys spending time with family and friends.

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