VansAirForce.net Charity Page

Why This Section Exists:

1/3/08
I have a plan. I'd like to use this site's popularity to give something back to the world. Nothing fancy, nothing complex, really nothing more than giving aid to folks who need it and promoting the efforts of other RV folks around the world doing the same. Over the past four years or so we've raised over $42,000 for two charities in New Mexico while attending the 'LOE RV Fly-In'. That's a great start, but I can help do more. We'll need a place to put this type news, and you're looking at it. I've added a 'Charity' menu choice on the front page that will bring you here.
The VansAirForce.net 'charity cap' costs $7 per cap to make and we mark it up $5 for the Make A Wish Foundation of N. Texas in memory of Julian Avery. If it has a on it somewhere, all the proceeds go to charity (and it'll be on all the stuff from now on).
Every six months or so I get a check for about $40 from CafePress, my commission on VansAirForce.net products sold in there. Those go to charity from now on.
Here's the 'put your money where your mouth is' sentence: From this point forward, nothing with a VansAirForce.net logo on it will be sold unless all the profits go to charity. Will it be a lot of money? Probably not that much in the grand scheme of things, but it'll put a smile on my face when I write the checks.
If your local RV group does something for charity, please let me know. If you fly an Angel Flight mission in your RV, let me know. If you fly supplies to aid in storm relief with your RV, let me know. I'd like to spotlight all these type stories on this page.
Let's help some folks.

Doug Reeves
Delta Romeo, LLC.

Charity Section (RVators giving back)
Home

Recent RV Community Charitable Actions: (got some news to report?)

4/16/08
Chad Jensen Sells Polished Prop - Gives 51% of Profits to Make A Wish
...uses the VAF forum classifieds to raise over $300 for Make A Wish.
"I had a little fun with Photoshop tonight...took a picture of the check that went to Make-A-Wish, and merged it with a goofy pic of myself to appear as though I'm holding a huge check. I've always wanted to present one of those huge checks!
LOL!! :o)
Chad Jensen VAF#755"

The Idea:
"I have the original propeller from my old 1968 Cherokee 180 taking up space in my "airplane room" in my house, and I'd like to put together an auction-type sale to raise some money for the Make A Wish Foundation that VAF supports. This propeller is not currently airworthy, and I don't know where the logs are, if it ever had a log. It certainly could be airworthy with an annual and/or overhaul. There is an AD on this prop that can be taken care of with an overhaul, at least that's what I've been told by the prop shop. It is a beautiful prop that we had taken down to the bare aluminum, and I've done some initial polishing on. Details...Sensenich 76EM8S5-0-60, serial number 7488. 76" diameter, 60" pitch for cruise. When it came off the airplane, it had about 4,500TT, and about 1,000 SMOH. I have no proof of this. These propellers are installed on, but not limited to the following aircraft: Piper PA-28-180, PA-28-181, American General Aircraft Holding Co., Inc. (formerly Gulfstream American) AA-5 series, Beech B23 and C23, Cessna 172Q, Avions Pierre Robin R-3000/160, among others."

How It Went Down:
"The prop is officially sold to Bob Brown for $600!" Over $300 goes to charity!!! Great idea, Chad.

3/22/08
RV Community Charity News (Jack Edwards 2nd Annual Fly-In Raises $4,600 for the American Cancer Society)
...this PIREP from Mike (Fossil) Ballard.
"Sat. flying at Gulf Shores, Alabama, Jack Edwards 2nd Annual Flyin raised $4,600 dollars for the American Cancer Society. The attached photos are 5 RV-8s and pilots of the VHF (Veterans) Squadron doing the brief and subsequent flybys at JKA. The pilots include Nomad, Jato, Toga, Snake, and Fossil with photos by J3 and Bug."
Mike (Fossil) Ballard
3/18/08
Where The Money Goes
...an audio clip from Jennifer Trotter of the N.Texas office of Make A Wish discussing where the money raised selling the VansAirForce.net baseball caps goes. Caps cost $7 to make. We up the price by $5 (which all goes to charity). So far we've raised over $1,200 - expecting to write another check of the same amount in a month or two.
3/6/08
Donation Check #1 Is Delivered
On Thursday, 3/6/08, Susie and I met Ken Avery down at the North Texas office of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This first check represents 100% of the profits from the first batch of (240) VansAirForce.net charity caps (more on why I'm doing this at right) and was donated in memory of Julian Avery.
Left to right: Me, Paige Kelly (Make A Wish volunteer) and Ken Avery. The T-shirt selection I chose was not an accident <g>.

fmi: What this money goes towards

Susie Reeves photograph.
1/22/08
Kurt Klewin
(RV-6A builder, Iraqi Freedom Veteran...and marathon runner)
"snip...I’ve decided to run this year’s event for a purpose a bit greater than my continued quest for 3 hours of pain followed by 3 days of difficulty walking. I’ve decided to run this year and raise money for an organization called Snowball Express. As some of you may know, Snowball Express is a non-profit organization that raises money to send spouses and children of service members who have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan."
more info about helping Kurt out
01/03/08 - All profits from items sold with VansAirForce.net logo on it pledged to charity from this point forward.
10/07/07 - $14,000 raised for the Lee & Beulah Moor Children's Home and the Mesilla Valley Community of Hope during the 2007 'Land of Enchantment RV Fly In'.