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Lightspeed announces Pilots Choice Awards finalists

Twelve charities are hoping their story resonates with you this year as part of the sixth annual Lightspeed Aviation Pilots Choice Awards.

The awards program asks pilots to vote on their favorite aviation charity, and last year more than 75,000 of you went to the website to cast your vote. This year 12 new charities have been thrown in to the mix.

  • Angel Flight West
  • Civil Air Patrol
  • Experience Aviation
  • JAARS
  • Miracle Flight for Kids
  • Missionary Flight International
  • Mission Aviation Foundation
  • New Tribes Mission Aviation
  • The Ninety-Nines
  • Patient AirLift Services
  • Patriots Jet Team Foundation
  • Pilots N Paws

Lightspeed Aviation Foundation staff culled down a list of hundreds of applicants to arrive at these 12. Now it’s up to pilots to determine which should receive grants of up to $10,000. Lightspeed’s Allan Schrader said that almost $500,000 has been awarded since the program began. It’s a cause Schrader is clearly passionate about. The annual awards have become a labor of love, but one that he said he believes can help aviation and the people it touches. “Go forth and make a difference,” he said.

Grants will be awarded in October at the Flying Aviation Expo.

Ian J. Twombly
Ian J. Twombly
Ian J. Twombly is senior content producer for AOPA Media.
Topics: Sun 'n Fun, Public Benefit Flying, Events

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