A group of

local Delta pilots has organized a charity aimed at supporting leadership

programs throughout Fayette County such as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

The Sky Legacy

Foundation Inc. was designed to organize charitable contributions given

one of the charity's founding members. The main focus is supporting non-profit

youth programs in kindergarten through 12th grade which engage in practical

leadership training.

"We feel

like this is a opportunity to thank Fayette County for being such a great

place to live," Hendricks said.

In addition

to centralizing support from Delta pilots, the foundation will reach out

to other sources including private and corporate foundations that target

youth leadership development.

All funds donated

will be spent in Fayette County, which is important, Hendricks said.

But only programs

designed specifically to provide practical leadership training will be

funded through the foundation. At least 60 percent of the annual donations

to the foundation will go towards these grants, which will not be used

for athletic programs, Hendricks added.

"I think

that whey you're training young people to be leaders, you can't go wrong,"

Hendricks said.

Hopes are that

the program takes off so well that the foundation can meet its long-term

goal of eventually giving scholarships to local youths who wish to pursue

degreed programs in aviation, Hendricks said. The remaining 40 percent

of annual contributions will be earmarked for this effort.

Plans are for

the scholarships to pay for tuition only and last the customary time required

for the degree program, typically two or four years.

The Sky Legacy

Foundation is incorporated and registered as a public charity through

the state Secretary of State's office and all contributions are tax deductible,

Hendricks said. Also, the foundation is recognized by the federal Internal

Revenue Services as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and a 509(a)(1)

grant-making public charity.

All documents

of the corporation, including financial statements, are posted at the

corporation's web site, www.skylegacyfoundation.org .

Hendricks said

the idea came together when some local pilots decided to volunteer their

efforts towards creating a focused charity for leadership programs in

Fayette County. The idea is to focus available resources, including that

of philanthropy interests throughout metro Atlanta, Hendricks added.

Since the foundation's

plans got rolling, other local residents have assisted in getting the

appropriate financial structure in place, including attorney Doug Warner,

who assisted with the incorporation process and Dale Geeslin of Geeslin,

Cordle, Johnson and Wetherington CPA who helped with the IRS legwork.

The corporation

administering the foundation's work includes Hendricks as founder and

president; Timothy S. Plunkett as director of operations; Richard Williams

as director of community relations; Gerard L. Brillant as director of

administration and legal matters and Joseph G. Standridge as director

of finance.

Back

to News Home Page | Back

to the top of the page