Turning Grassroots Passion into Corporate Giving

For Republic Airways, giving back isn’t just another box to tick, it is a core part of the culture. Here is how Amy Arnell, Director of Corporate and Community Responsibility, empowers thousands of Republic Airways^® Associates to drive positive change in the communities where they live and serve.

Corporate Responsibility in Action

If you want to know why Corporate and Community Responsibility is so important to Republic Airways, look no further than the BEST Guiding Principles.

Be good stewards of our resources
Encourage a culture of fun and action
Strive for excellence in everything we do
Trust, respect and care for one another

These Guiding Principles aren’t just about Republic Airways as a business, but Republic Airways as a member of communities across the country. “At its core, commercial aviation is about connecting people together,” Amy explains. “We believe our dedication to fostering those connections should continue past the boarding gate.”

A 6,500-Person Department

“I like to say that I run the biggest department at Republic Airways,” laughs Amy. “Because it’s everyone. All 6,500-plus Associates are an integral part of what Corporate and Community Responsibility does.”

For Amy, her position is about enabling Republic Airways Associates to engage in areas where they are already passionate. “I’m not here to tell our people how to give back,” says Amy. “I’m here to listen to what our Associates care about and then give them the opportunities to make a difference.”

Amy knows a lot about the power a passionate Associate can have. She was a part of the team that helped found the Plane Pull event that has become an annual tradition, raising over $6,000,000 since 2011 for Indiana children suffering from life-threatening or terminal illnesses.

“The Plane Pull began as a grassroots movement,” Amy remembers. “A group of us got together to do something for a cause we were passionate about. For the first seven or eight years, it was a passion project led by Associates.”

Even now, with more and more official channels in place for giving back, Amy wants to keep that grassroots feeling alive. “When our giving initiatives are led by our Associates, it creates a real excitement for the causes,” Amy says. “It never feels forced or artificial.”

By the Numbers: 2025 Community Impact

It’s hard to quantify the passion Amy cultivates, but here are some quick figures. In 2025, Associates donated over 9,000 hours to charitable causes. That’s over a full year of volunteer hours. Those hours were spread out over 125+ events throughout the year, focused on our four Pillars of support: Children & Education, Global Health & Wellness, Military & Veterans and Sustainability.

Through elected payroll deductions alone, Associates raised $84,000 for these important causes. Republic Airways Associates impacted the lives of 239,300 youth, as reported by our charitable partners. Associates also helped pack 47,006 meals with Pack Away Hunger, helped donate 1,308 wreaths for Wreaths Across America and helped raise over $1,000,000 for children and families in need during our Plane Pull event.

The numbers aren’t surprising to Amy. “When you see the Republic Airways culture, and you see our Associates’ dedication to service in the air and in the community, you understand just how much we can accomplish.”

Learn more about Republic Airways Corporate and Community Responsibility and the initiatives supported at rjet.com/community.