The EAA’s major annual fundraiser included the participation of Harrison Ford, John Travolta and Arnold Palmer and yielded $2.88 million, with proceeds to benefit EAA’s programs “to inspire youth, provide education, and preserve aviation history.” EAA announced in a release last week that the AirVenture event attracted more than 1,000 attendees “bound together by a common passion for flight,” according to EAA President Tom Poberezny. Major contributors included Palmer and Ford as well as Cessna Aircraft Chairman Emeritus Russ Meyer, Cessna President Jack Pelont and his wife Rose, and Florida-based highway contractor Bill Bachshmidt. EAA has partnered with ConocoPhillips and Embry-Riddle to advance development of educational and experimental activities designed to help young people pursue their interests or careers in aviation. “I didn’t come to flying until I was 53 years old,” said actor Harrison Ford, who has donated time to participate in helicopter rescue missions in Wyoming. “But it has made me feel young and challenged again and given me an opportunity to give back.”
