Fostering Future Vertical Flight Talent
By Betty Chen, VFF Scholarship Coordinator
The need for talent in developing and fielding vertical flight technology is greater than ever before. Over the past 10 years, the Vertical Flight Foundation has awarded over $750,000 to exemplary students around the world, many who have gone on to become creators, educators and leaders of the vertical flight industry. As the Vertical Flight Society continues to feed the VTOL talent pipeline, we are grateful to all of our donors whose contributions, whether big or small, make this all possible.
As you plan your charitable giving, please consider the following options to maximize your impact:
Amazon Smile Program: You can support VFF with your Amazon purchases. Sign up for AmazonSmile to donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases.
Corporate Matching Gift Programs: Many organizations financially match employee contributions to non-profit organizations such as the Vertical Flight Society. Please contact your company administrator to find out if such programs exist to make the most of your donations!
Donor Advised Funds: DAFs can help our donors maximize their tax benefits and ease their administrative burdens while supporting the Vertical Flight Foundation Scholarships. Please consult a financial advisor to determine if this is the best way forward for your philanthropy, or if other charitable giving vehicles can better suit your needs.
Donor Spotlight:
Dr. Jing Yen served as the former Director of Flight Technology at Bell Helicopter. After receiving his Ph.D from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968, he embarked on what would be a 31-year tenure at Bell Helicopter. Dr. Yen was the recipient of the VFS Honorary Fellowship in 1996 and the NATO RTO Panel Excellent Award; served as the Chairman of the AIAA North Texas Section in 1981; the Editor in Chief for the Journal of the AHS from 1990-1992; and the Technical Director at Forum 49 (1993).
Dr. Yen cites the importance of scholarships that allowed him to obtain his undergraduate and graduate education, the foundation to his distinguished and fruitful career in the rotorcraft industry.
So in 2017, Dr. Yen pledged a very generous lifetime contribution to the VFF. Every year, the applicant who shows the most interest and appreciation on the importance of improving vertical flight affordability will be considered for the Jing Yen Cost Awareness scholarship, worth $6,000.
Thank you, Dr. Yen!
Each year, Vertical Flight Foundation (VFF) scholarships are awarded to college students demonstrating an interest in pursuing engineering related careers in vertical flight technology. The Foundation scholarship awards are made possible solely by tax deductible donations that have been established and contribute to an endowment. The VFF scholarships are solely merit-based and the value of the scholarships range from $1,000 up to $6,000 (USD). The program is open to full-time students attending a university or college located anywhere in the world and regardless of a student's nationality.
If you have any questions, please contact Betty Chen, VFF Scholarship Coordinator, by phone at 703-684-6777 x102 or by email.