ABA mourns loss of Jessica Ghawi

The American Bus Association (ABA) released the following statement mourning the loss of Jessica Gawhi, who died in the Aurora theatre shooting:

Dear ABA Members,

As you know last Friday we learned that Jessica Ghawi, also known as Jessica Redfield, the daughter of longtime ABA Member Sandy Phillips, died in the Aurora, Colorado, movie theatre shooting. ABA has been in contact with Sandy and we have sent her our deepest condolences. The family is most appreciative of the prayers, thoughts, calls, emails and postings on Facebook and Twitter. People in the motorcoach, travel and tourism industry have a big heart, and you’ve shown it.

We’ve learned that Jessica’s Memorial Service is scheduled for Saturday, July 28th, at 10 a.m. at the Community Bible Church in San Antonio, Texas. The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Jessica Redfield Sports Journalism Scholarship Fund. The family says the fund will be seed money to set up a scholarship to help young sports reporters study journalism. It was established by Sandy and by Jessica’s brother, Jordan. Here is a link for more information about the fund: http://www.indiegogo.com/OfficialJessicaRedfieldFund.

If you’d like to send a card to Sandy and her family, here is the address:

Sandy Phillips
2906 Whisper View
San Antonio, TX 78230

Tributes on Twitter: @JessicaRedfield and #RIPJessica

We at ABA and all the other motorcoach, travel and tour associations keep Jessica, Sandy and the entire family in our prayers and thoughts during these difficult days.

Sincerely,
Peter J. Pantuso, CTIS
President and CEO, American Bus Association