Lightspeed Aviation Foundation Honors 81-Year-Old Organization

The women pilots association The Ninety-Nines has received a grant of $10,000 from the Lightspeed Aviation Foundation.

Founded and chaired by Lightspeed Aviation Corp. president Allan Schrader, the Foundation's grant program aims to help increase recognition and funding opportunities for aviation-related charitable organizations. Twenty organizations were nominated for this first-year program, and over 20,000 pilots cast votes for their favorite group. The top five vote-getters each received an award.  In addition, each of the twenty nominees will share additional funds generated from gifts designated by purchasers of Lightspeed Aviation products.

Schrader, in announcing the winners, acknowledged that all the nominees are already "doing good for aviation" and encouraged everyone to support the work being done by all of the aviation-related charities.

The Ninety-Nines, founded in 1929, has an 81-year history of providing scholarships, conducting aviation education programs and safety seminars, and maintaining historical records of women's contributions to aviation. In keeping with one of the goals of the original 99 members, to assist women pilots in advancing their aviation careers, the organization also sponsors a successful mentoring program for professional women pilots and an online flight training forum for women either just beginning or continuing their flight training.

Adds Susan Larson, Ninety-Nines president, "This grant will allow us to implement some of our long range plans to enhance our programs and reach more women pilots. We are so grateful to Lightspeed Foundation for their support of our mission and those of the other winners and thank everyone who voted for us."

The Ninety-Nines is based at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City where it operates The 99s Museum of Women Pilots. It also owns and operates the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum in Atchison, KS. Membership is open to any woman with at least a student pilot certificate.

FMI: www.ninety-nines.org