Once in a great while, even mayors do something productive.

My colleague, Eric Orsborn, mayor of Buckeye, Arizona, partnered with Santa Barbara nonprofit SafeLaunch to raise money for youth substance use prevention.

In collaboration with the Way Out West Coalition of Buckeye, Orsborn helped to promote and form competitive teams for the inaugural Buckeye Plane Pull at the Buckeye Airport on April 13.

The really cool and unique feature of this event was the plane, a four-engine World War II-vintage PB4Y Navy bomber, the only one of its kind still flying.

Weighing in at a svelte 40,000 pounds, stout teams of firefighters, police and civilian teams formed up to compete and raise money.

A plane that served to protect our country 80 years ago now serves to help protect our future helping to protect youthful brain development.

In addition to the Buckeye event, SafeLaunch spreads its message across the country. Co-founders Janet Rowse — yes, my wife — and Ron Cuff travel coast to coast in Cuff’s four-seat Cessna to promote successful brain development for young people through early prevention of substance use.

SafeLaunch initiatives include education and incentive programs to promote healthy and productive youth development without the barriers of substance impairment.

So, good on you, Mayor Orsborn, and here’s hoping that other mayors do likewise for their communities and welcome a visit from the SafeLaunch team to enhance and protect their city’s most valuable asset, the children we raise.