The Air Care Alliance, one of 10 organizations that was awarded a $10,000 AOPA Foundation Giving Back grant, is using the money to fund a position that will help grow its program and communicate the benefits of charitable flying.
Lindy Kirkland is the volunteer executive director of the Air Care Alliance, a nonprofit that serves as a clearinghouse for volunteer-based charitable flying groups. He heard about the Giving Back grant program from an AOPA announcement.
The alliance needs a part-time employee to coordinate volunteers, who are spread across the country, said Kirkland. “[Alliance Chairman] Rol Murrow is also busy at the Wolf Aviation Fund and he’s also on the board of the Recreational Aviation Foundation,” he said. “We’re all volunteers and we desperately need a part-time staffer to organize communications with the board and our members, and also help us promote public benefit flying.” The Air Care Alliance is seeking résumés from those interested, he added.
The new position will allow the alliance to have a more visible presence in the media, said Kirkland. “We’ll have someone who has dedicated time to do this.” The Air Care Alliance also updated its website, with more information and a note that it was awarded an AOPA Foundation Giving Back grant, he said.
The Air Care Alliance’s annual conference will be April 25 and 26 in Blue Bell, Pa., outside of Philadelphia. The theme is “Embracing the Future of Public Benefit Flying,” and will feature topics including engaging millennials, the changing landscape of health care, and social media.
The AOPA Foundation will be awarding more Giving Back grants in 2014. The grant application will be available on May 1 on the foundation's website. For more information, contact the AOPA Foundation.