AOPA President Mark Baker presented Lightspeed Aviation Foundation's Allan Schrader with an AOPA Presidential Citation Oct. 11 at AOPA Aviation Summit in Fort Worth, Texas. The citation "is in honor of the great work you're doing to advance general aviation," Baker told Schrader in an AOPA Live presentation.
Lightspeed Aviation Foundation was created in 2010 by Schrader and his company, Lightspeed Aviation Corp., to support compassion organizations that are heavily dependent on aviation to serve hurting people around the world. It opens the Pilot's Choice Awards each year during which pilots and other aviation enthusiasts can nominate and vote on worthy organizations. These finalists are voted on in an online poll and grants are then awarded. Since 2010, more than $400,000 has been awarded in grants. Current voting is open until November 1.
"We think it is essential that we use our gifts to serve others," Schrader said.
The citation reads: "AOPA recognizes the philanthropic leadership of the Lightspeed Aviation Foundation and thanks the Foundation for its support of organizations that grow and expand the aviation community and leverage general aviation aircraft to improve the plight of people worldwide."