AMA Foundation
SUPPORTING THE AMA FOUNDATION
By Rusty Kennedy, AMA Foundation Chairman | rusty k716@gmail.com
The AMA Foundation exists to inspire the financial support of aeromodeling—a hobby, sport, and scientific pursuit—as a legitimate and necessary component of the full aviation continuum, contributing significantly to the betterment of American society through a congressionally recognized community-based organization.
AMA exists to continue the important ongoing development of aeromodeling through education, promotion, and community-based programming. AMA is devoted to motivating the young and young-at-heart to pursue model aviation.
The AMA Foundation was established in 2013 to serve as a supporting organization to fundraise and make grants on behalf of, and for, AMA to support its charitable and educational programs and services.
To continue to benefit AMA and to progress the hobby by introducing it to youth as an educational outlet, the AMA Foundation needs your gifts and participation. The AMA Foundation offers many types of giving opportunities to those who share our vision to support the hobby of aeromodeling and the many programs that AMA supports. Because the AMA Foundation is recognized as an educational and scientific nonprofit organization, contributions might be tax-deductible.
Since my last Model Aviation column, where I encouraged AMA members who were Amazon shoppers to use AmazonSmile, guess what? Amazon has ended the program. How can the AMA Foundation replace those lost dollars? One of the easiest ways is to become an AMA Foundation Torchbearer by visiting https://amablog.modelaircraft.org/amafoundation/pass-the-torch.
The AMA Foundation Torchbearer program is a recurring donation program where donors can automatically contribute a specified amount to the AMA Foundation’s endowment. Your recurring gift can be monthly, starting at $5 per month, or another amount of your choice. I personally donate $100 each month and it goes to the AMA Foundation’s General Fund.
We are so happy to see the response to our call to action and to see how all of you genuinely care about our incredible hobby. Following our February 1, 2023, email, and as of March 10 (when I wrote this column), we have gained 17 new Torchbearers.
Please join the AMA Foundation in celebrating model aviation for the 11th annual National Model Aviation Day on August 12, 2023. Visit https://amablog.modelaircraft.org/modelaviationday for more information.
This a wonderful opportunity to introduce the public to the exciting world of model aviation and, at the same time, raise funds for the AMA Foundation or the charity of the club’s choice. For some clubs, especially those in the Southwest, August is just too hot. You can change the date. It does not have to be on August 12.
Please register. There is no cost to register, and an AMA contest/event sanction is not required. This day is set aside each year for clubs and their members to highlight all types of model aviation, and explain and demonstrate AMA’s education and charitable programs.
Legacy, or planned giving, is the process of donating a major gift that is arranged in the present and allocated at a future date. Commonly donated through a will or trust, planned gifts are often granted after a donor has passed away and can include gifts of equity, life insurance, real estate, personal property, or cash. It is a wonderful way to donate.
For information about planned giving, please contact AMA Foundation Director Stephen Haston at (765) 287-1256, ext. 279, or email foundation@modelaircraft.org.
AMA has consolidated its newsletters into a single weekly one that is sent to members who subscribe. I encourage members to subscribe at www.modelaircraft.org/newsletters/ama-this-week.
It will help keep members up to date with AMA happenings and the AMA Foundation.
