New York Yankees Visit Vaughn to Honor Alumni Brian Worthington on Day 5 of Hope Week

On Friday, June 20th, Yankee players and coaching staff surprised students and volunteers from the New York Metro Black Pilots Association (NYMBA) during their visit to Vaughn College as part of the HOPE (Helping Others Persevere and Excel) Week Initiative. Players Trent Grisham, Jasson Domínguez, Oswald Peraza, JT Brubaker and Yerry de los Santos and pitching coach Matt Blake and first base coach Travis Chapman joined the group on a tour of the tower and the hangar. Afterwards, both NYMBA students and Yankees players had the opportunity to utilize the Redbird Flight and air traffic controller simulators.  

The founder of NYMBA, Brian Worthington, is a Vaughn alumni and local to Queens, having grown up in a housing development in Woodside near LaGuardia Airport. He received his degree in aviation maintenance from Vaughn. Additionally, he earned his private and commercial pilot certificate and currently serves as a helicopter pilot for the NYPD.  

Worthington’s own hurdles he faced achieving his dream inspired him to be a resource for Black children of similar circumstances. He and the other members of the NYMBA use their own small planes to instruct students of color with most of the costs coming out of pocket. To further grow the organization, he opened his own flight school called Flight Kings at Republic Executive Airport on Long Island. 

The event concluded with the presentation of a $10,000 donation from the New York Yankees Foundation to the NYMBA. Beginning in 2009, the Yankees HOPE Week Initiative is a multifaceted, week-long, ambitious community outreach program that all players and employees in the organization participate in. The Yankees aim to send the message that everyone can give of themselves to make their community a better place.