School Starts Fundraiser for 10-Year-Old Hero Who Protected Sister from Philadelphia Plane Crash

• Andre Howard III, 10, heroically saved his sister while being hit with flying debris following the deadly Jan. 31 crash of a medical jet in Northeast Philadelphia
• Andre III, who attended Soans Christian Academy, shared his first words following brain surgery
• “Let's help Andre through this journey as we rally up alongside him in support,” according to a fundraiser established by the school

A Philadelphia school has launched a fundraiser to help the family of a heroic 10-year-old boy who was injured while protecting his sister from the deadly plane crash.

The Soans Christian Academy, where Andre Howard III and his siblings have attended, announced the benefit as the 10 year old is recovering from his injuries following the Friday, Jan. 31 medical jet crash, CBS affiliate KYW reported.

“Soans family is standing together with the Howard family as they go through this difficult situation,” according to the fundraiser shared on Facebook. “We are declaring a call of unity in prayer and donation to support the Howard family.”

The school said it is accepting gift cards and money to help the child's family.

“Donations should be brought to Soans as we will give directly to the family," the fundraiser said. "Andre has a long road for recovery. Let's help Andre through this journey as we rally up alongside him in support."

The City of Philadelphia said in a news release that the crash happened when a medical jet left Northeast Philadelphia Airport with two passengers — a mother and her daughter — and four crew members headed for Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri. 

Andre III was in a car with his siblings and his father, Andre Howard Jr., when the crash occurred near the mall, ABC affiliate WPVI reported. Before the incident, Andre Jr. picked up his son from the school. 

"It's crazy how you say goodbye to one person and then finding out the next day you don't know if you're going to say hello again," Tatiana Rodriguez of Soans later told KYW.

The elder Howard said that debris was flying everywhere after the crash. 

"My son…tells his little sister, 'Get down,' “ Andre Jr. recalled to WPVI. “And he grabs her, I hear the glass shatter. I turn around, there's a piece of metal sticking out of my son's head from the plane.”

A good Samaritan took off his shirt to apply pressure on Andre’s head, WPVI added, saying that police took the family to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital, where Andre underwent surgery. 

"They told us my son wasn't supposed to make it,” Andre Jr. told WPVI. “They also told us, 'They don't do children trauma.' But they did for us, which was nothing but God.”

Andre III was later taken to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where he has made progress — after doctors initially told the family the child may never walk. 

In an ABC News interview, Andre Jr. said that his son woke up after he underwent brain surgery and asked about two things: his sister’s safety and the upcoming Super Bowl between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.

"He asked me, 'Daddy, what's today?' I was like, 'Monday.' 'OK, wait. We didn't play yesterday, did we?' 'No, you didn't miss the Super Bowl,' " Andre Jr. recalled. 

According to the dad, Andre III asked, “Daddy, did I save my sister?”

"It had me crying," Andre Jr. said.

" 'You told us to get down. I was just trying to help my sister ... next thing I know, I thought I died,' " Andre III said in the hospital, according to the boy's father.

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Andre Jr. hailed his son’s heroic actions, previously telling WPVI, "To face death yesterday and speaking today, stepping up for his little sister, like I train him and his other little brothers to do off of instinct.”

"His dad calls him a superhero. He is," Kristen Domico of Soans added, KYW reported. "He takes care of his siblings. He's always caring for his friends."

The Howard family established a GoFundMe to help pay for Andre III’s medical and recovery expenses. As of Thursday, Feb. 6, it has raised over $117,160.