The Sporty's Foundation Issues Annual Report

Chronicling its second year, The Sporty's Foundation Annual Report has just been released and the resulting stats are impressive. The Sporty's Foundation has as its mission funding aviation education and safety programs with an emphasis on youth.

The Sporty's Foundation made bequests for 2008 in the total amount of $151,355. This sum included bequests for flight training scholarships as well as to the AOPA Air Safety Foundation, the Boy Scouts of America, Build A Plane and others. A complete list of recipients is included in the report.

Looking forward, The Sporty's Foundation has recently partnered with the Experimental Aircraft Association's Young Eagles program to jumpstart the number of young people who learn to fly. The program, called The Next Step, will make Sporty's Complete Flight Training Course available on-line for free to each Young Eagle who has taken a Young Eagles ride.

According to Sporty's Founder/Chairman Hal Shevers, the impetus for The Next Step was to move more Young Eagles from the right seat to the left seat. EAA Chapter members will be instrumental, serving as mentors for these new young student pilots.

In addition to free access to the online course, Young Eagles will each receive an official logbook with guidance on how to pursue their interest in aviation.

FMI: www.sportysfoundation.org, www.sportys.com/nextstep