Page 20 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2016

COASTNOTES BLACKHAWK
FLIGHT FOUNDATION
Helping children seek professional careers in aeronautical science
Almost 100 youth, ages 11 through 17, are having the opportunity to participate in the National Flight Academy this summer thanks
to scholarships provided by the Blackhawk Flight Foundation. The academy is located next to the National Naval Aviation History Museum at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Fla.
“This six day program is one of
the most impressive and positive
life altering experiences for a
young person. It is a full blown STEM program, teaching Science- Technology-Engineering-Math,” said B.J. Perrett, executive director of Blackhawk Flight Foundation.
The 501(c)3 foundation, with headquarters in Mandeville, La., was founded in 2006 to assist children
of American military and law enforcement personnel who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty to obtain professional careers in the
aeronautical sciences industry. Perrett utilizes an aviation-themed tutoring program to promote the study and mastery of basic mathematics, science and English language skills. The National Flight Academy is a good fit for the foundation’s goals, he said.
The first year that Blackhawk Flight Foundation sent youth to the academy, 10 were able to attend, then 63 went the following year and 75 the year after that. Eventually, Perrett wants to be able to sponsor 100 young people from each of the five gulf states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.
“We formed an alliance with the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 479 at Diamondhead to help raise funds,” Perrett said. Fundraising events on the Mississippi Gulf Coast have been held at Stennis International Airport, Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Biloxi and also during Cruisin’ the Coast.
The Blackhawk Flight Foundation supports the visions of fellow organizations with parallel missions and goals, such as Young Eagles program, U.S. Naval Sea Cadet
Corps, Young Marine Aviation Cadet program, New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy, the Civil Air Patrol Cadet program, JROTC programs,
U.S. military-based wounded warrior programs and the Eagle Scout Aviation Merit Badge program.
The foundation depends on volunteers and fundraisers to keep its mission going.
Blackhawk Flight Foundation Inc.
B.J. Perrett, executive director 985.789.2746 www.blackhawkflightfoundation.org
Blackhawk Flight Foundation provides scholarships for children to attend the National Flight Academy in Pensacola, Fl.
20 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • July 2016 FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net
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