2021 You Can Fly Challenge a resounding success
Thousands of donors help fund important AOPA programs
AOPA members and the general aviation community are a benevolent group, and they stepped up in a major way in 2021. And for all the pilots, students, teachers, and instructors who will directly benefit from this generosity—a huge thank you!
Nowhere has this been more evident than in the recently concluded—and very successful—2021 You Can Fly Challenge. During the challenge’s window between June 1 and December 31, all donations to the AOPA Foundation made in support of the You Can Fly program were matched, dollar for dollar up to $2.5 million, by the Ray Foundation.
That figure comprised nearly 4,500 unique donations to the foundation. When combined with the matching grant from the Ray Foundation, more than $6 million was raised to get—and keep—more pilots flying.
“Wow. What a year. I could not be more grateful to our community than I am right now,” said Elizabeth Tennyson, senior vice president of the AOPA Foundation and You Can Fly. “We were just blown away by the incredible support and because of that, our programs to get more pilots in the skies—and safely keep them there—can continue to reach tens of thousands of current and future aviators.”
The late James C. Ray was a World War II veteran and a member of the AOPA President’s Council who “believed that life skills are learned through aviation.”
As a reminder, the AOPA Foundation’s You Can Fly program comprises four important initiatives: High School Aviation STEM Curriculum, Flight Training, Flying Clubs, and Rusty Pilots.
With the 2021 You Can Fly Challenge behind us, the need to support important AOPA programs that member dues do not cover goes on. Learn about more ways you can donate to the AOPA Foundation.
