On a clear morning over New England, Marco Bitran lifts a small aircraft into the sky. The horizon is wide, the cockpit steady, but the mission is anything but routine. On board are patients traveling to appointments they could not otherwise reach. For Bitran, a licensed commercial pilot, these flights with Patient Airlift Services (PALS) and Angel Flight are a reminder that service can take many forms.

“I’m fortunate to combine my passion for aviation with something that directly helps people,” he says. “When you fly someone who needs urgent medical care, you see the difference it makes immediately.”

Turning Points and Giving Back

Bitran’s path has been shaped by both success and setback. After graduating from Harvard Business School, he built a career in finance and later real estate investment. But it was the choice to focus on family, community, and giving back that redefined what mattered most.

In 2010, alongside his wife, he founded Origin Property Group, investing in housing developments across Massachusetts. At the same time, he deepened his nonprofit work, balancing the demands of business with volunteering and aviation service.

Volunteering Beyond Borders

This year, Bitran added another chapter. Alongside his friend Greg, he joined a Volunteers for Israel (Sar-El) program, working for a week on an Israel Defense Forces base near Tel Aviv.

“We were part of 400 volunteers that week, from Germany, the US, France, the Netherlands, and many other places,” he recalls. “Different faiths, different backgrounds — all united by a desire to help.”

Their assignment: sorting and rebuilding medical supply kits for infantry medical teams and hospitals. Supplies that returned from the field often arrived in disarray, so volunteers checked expiration dates, reorganized equipment, and prepared kits for redeployment.

“It wasn’t glamorous work,” Bitran says, “but it was meaningful. You could see how these kits go directly to people in critical need. It was our way of showing love and solidarity.”

Founded in 1983 after the Galilee War, Sar-El has drawn more than 160,000 volunteers from 30 countries. Since October 7, 2023, more than 25,000 people have traveled to Israel through the program, offering logistical and agricultural support.

A Life in Motion

At home in Brookline, Bitran is a husband and father of two. He is also a runner, cyclist, and swimmer. The rhythm of his life often shifts between boardrooms, construction sites, cockpits, and volunteer programs. Yet the through line is service.

“Everyone has something they can give,” he says. “For me, it’s flying, or sometimes just showing up and putting in the hours where it’s needed. Those small contributions add up.”

Whether in the skies over Massachusetts or at a base in Israel, Marco Bitran has built a life where purpose travels alongside him.

Interview with Marco Bitran

What drew you to combine aviation with volunteering?

I’ve always loved flying, but I didn’t want it to just be a hobby. When I learned about Angel Flight and Patient Airlift Services, it clicked. You can take something you’re passionate about and make it useful. Flying a patient to a hospital isn’t just about transportation — it’s about easing stress for them and their families.

Can you share a memorable moment from one of those flights?

There was one patient, a young child, who needed repeated trips to Boston for treatment. Each time we flew, you could see how much it meant to the parents to not worry about the logistics. Those flights made me realize how powerful small acts of service can be.

You recently volunteered in Israel with Sar-El. What was that experience like?

It was humbling. Our group had people from all over the world — Germany, France, the U.S., the Netherlands — and different faiths. We were on an IDF base near Tel Aviv, sorting medical supplies that would go back to the field. It wasn’t glamorous work, but it was vital. It reminded me that service doesn’t always look heroic. Sometimes it’s just putting in the hours so others can have what they need.

Did that experience change how you think about community?

Marco Bitran: Definitely. Being in Israel, surrounded by strangers who quickly became friends, I realized community can be built anywhere. It’s about people uniting for a purpose bigger than themselves. That’s something I carry back home, too.

How do you balance business, family, and this level of volunteering?

It’s not easy. My wife and kids are a huge support, and I’m grateful for that. I’ve also learned to prioritize. Some weeks it’s about work, some weeks it’s about family, and other times it’s about service. The key is being present in whatever you’re doing.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to give back but doesn’t know where to start?

Start small. Volunteer at a local food bank, tutor kids, or donate your time to a cause you care about. You don’t need to fly planes or travel overseas. Service is about consistency, not scale. If you keep showing up, you’ll make an impact.