P-51 Mustang model inspires Boeing employee to give back
Employee’s passion to volunteer makes an impact in her community during Global Volunteer Month and beyond.
Briana Preimesberger, Boeing 777/777X production quality manager, fondly recalls a childhood memory of being at a garage sale and spotting a P-51 Mustang model with chipped paint and a broken propeller. What stayed with her wasn’t the condition of the model, but the moment her mother bought it for her. That simple act of support helped spark her passion for aviation, a field that felt very unattainable at the time.
Preimesberger holds the P-51 model with the Everett factory in the backdrop.
“That moment holds a special place in my heart,” Preimesberger shares. “Just as my mom gave me the space to explore my aviation interests, I want to do the same by giving back to others in my community.”
And that’s precisely what Preimesberger does today. One of her passions is volunteering with the Washington Alliance for Better Schools (WABS), a nonprofit that ensures students furthest from opportunity may pursue a future that embraces their strengths, passions, and dreams. She has volunteered with the organization for 5 years, logging hundreds of hours tutoring students. Boeing was the founding funder and partner of the organization 30 years ago, a testament to Boeing’s ongoing support for the next generation of aerospace talent.
Preimesberger helps 4th grade students complete a STEM challenge. The students designed and created a device made of paper, paperclips, tape, and string to capture and carry a ping-pong ball using as few materials as possible.
At WABS’ 30th anniversary event on March 18, Preimesberger was awarded the 2025 Outstanding Leadership Award. When accepting her award, Preimesberger shared the story of the P-51 model she found as a young girl.
“It’s a reminder of all the passion that fuels what I do,” she said. “And the world-changing things I now get to do with my career. Why wouldn’t I want to offer that to the next generation?”
Boeing is celebrating the passion of all employee volunteers during Global Volunteer Month this April. Boeing Cares Volunteer Corps activities are available to employees throughout the month to provide more opportunities for making a difference in our communities.
By the numbers:
- Employees volunteered 494,000 hours in service of their communities in 2024.
- $47 million was donated by employees back to nonprofit partners with a boost from the Boeing Gift Match Program in 2024.
