December is speeding by, and that means it is into the home stretch for the AOPA Foundation’s Hat in the Ring Society matching challenge, in which two generous donors have pledged $100,000 each to match the donations of other members that reach $200,000 by Dec. 31.
Many donors have risen to the challenge, but there is still work to be done.
At last count, 148 donors had thrown their hats in the ring, making donations totaling $180, 295. That challenges other supporters of general aviation to raise at least $19,705 by Dec. 31.
These two major matching challenge grants—a $100,000 matching challenge from the Tom Davis Fund and another $100,000 from longtime Hat in the Ring Society member Michael Baldwin—can double the value and power of your support.
The AOPA Foundation needs your help to meet this challenge. When you join or upgrade your level of support in the Hat in the Ring Society, the AOPA Foundation’s longest-running philanthropic-giving circle, your tax-deductible donation will be matched by these two generous donors who have challenged the foundation to raise $200,000 by year’s end.
Your decision to join or upgrade today will help the foundation take a very big step toward reaching that goal. The Hat in the Ring Society consists of philanthropist-pilots who “throw their hats in the ring” each year with charitable donations between $1,000 and $5,000. The name originated with the 94th Aero Squadron, the World War I fighter squadron led by Captain Eddie Rickenbacker.
By joining, pilots provide critical support for the AOPA Foundation’s efforts to strengthen GA, including the AOPA Air Safety Institute, which provides no-cost safety programs to tens of thousands of pilots each year. As the acknowledged leader in GA safety, the Air Safety Institute has played an important role in reducing the fatal accident rate over the years.
