November, 2023 | Cloud Nine . . .

is a newsletter published by Capital City Young Aviators

www.CCYAyoungaviators.org

Capital City Young Aviators’ mission is to provide encouragement, hope and mentoring to local middle and high school students through a unique and exciting life changing experience in aviation, organized mentoring and aviation-based scholarships.

About CCYA

What is CCYA?

Capital City Young Aviators is a non-profit organization dedicated to help youth who are at-risk through aviation based experiences. By working with other local youth organizations, we are making an impact one student at a time.

Are we an IRS approved organization?

Yes, we are an IRA approved, 501 (c)(3)

What do we do?

Our organizations primary activity is to provide encouragement, hope and mentoring to local middle and high school students through a unique and exciting life changing aviation experience.

How are community youth selected for the CCYA Young Aviators Program?

CCYA works with other local community organizations that nominate students they work with to take part in the CCYA young flyers program. These other community organizations currently include: United Way of Central Ohio, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio, My Project USA, KIPP Columbus, United Schools Network, FESTA, All-That, & Others. To view our partner's websites, please click on their organization name.

Volunteer or Join our Board.

CCYA is always looking for great volunteers that would like to sit on the CCYA Board or support the events through any of our committees, including Marketing, Program or Business Development. E-mail us at president@ccyayoungaviators.org if interested.

Become a Sponsor. (We need your support)

The CCYA Young Aviators program is funded by great local corporate sponsors and donations. Please consider becoming a corporate sponsor and help us continue this great opportunity for local youth. We have a number of levels to choose from and your support will have a direct impact on our ongoing mission. Click HERE to learn more or E-mail us at president@ccyayoungaviators.org.

Donation options

Another way to support our program is to donate by clicking the link below. Also, if you prefer, you could donate a great silent auction item that could be used in our Silent Auction held in conjunction with our annual Diamond Event fundraiser. Please let us know if you have an item to donate by e-mailing us at: president@ccyayoungaviators.org.

Donate Now

Special Thanks to our Platinum Sponsors

www.retirement-strategies.com

www.jpsbbq.com

www.worthingtonjewelers.com

www.liveunitedcentralohio.org

To become a sponsor and support CCYA initiatives, Contact us at President@ccyayoungaviators.org or view sponsor info at www.ccyayoungaviators.org/sponsorship

2023 Diamond Event (Was a great success!)

A heartfelt appreciation goes out to our generous donors and dedicated volunteers who played a pivotal role in launching CCYA with our inaugural and highly successful event. This gathering allowed us not only to come together and build connections but, more importantly, to raise essential funds for the upcoming program year, amassing nearly $6,000. It's truly a grassroots effort in action.

Special thanks to the CCYA Board, the supportive CCA Community, and everyone who contributed raffle items (a shout-out to the kind donations from Bob and Theresa at Worthington Jewelers). Gratitude also extends to those who actively participated by promoting and purchasing shot glass raffle entries and 50/50 tickets. While the allure of winning fantastic prizes added a touch of excitement, the real triumph lies in the creation of a robust support community and the funds generated for the benefit of these wonderful kids.

Keep your eyes out for information on the 2024 Diamond Event and if you would like to donate any items for Silent Auction, please let us know.

* Special Thanks to our Friends Bob & Theresa Capace at Worthington Jewelers for their incredible support and donations. www.worthingtonjewelers.com

* Also, thanks to Scott, Chip and Krissy at Yabo's Tacos

for hosting each annual event. www.myyabos.com

2023 Student Airport Fun Day

In June 2023, 15 youngsters were chosen for the 2023 program, joining in the exciting Fun Day. The highlight of the day was an exclusive tour of Bolton airport and tower, complete with a unique chance to experience sitting in both an airplane and a helicopter. The adventure continued with an engaging ground school session, where they received hands-on instructions on flying and the opportunity to build and fly model airplanes.

2023 Student Flight Lessons

Embarking on new heights! A thrilling milestone for some of our students as they recently took their first flight lessons. The excitement soared as they navigated the skies, turning dreams into reality. These young aviators not only spread their wings but also discovered the joy of defying gravity. Here's to the exciting journey of exploration and the sky becoming the limit for these budding aviation enthusiasts!

Student Flights are provided by

Capital City Aviation

Capital City Aviation (CCA) Flight School will be providing the actual flight experience and is a completely separate entity from Capital City Young Aviators. To learn more about Flight Training, check them out at www.capitalcityaviation.com

Upcoming Events

Diamond Event	April 24, 2024	Yabos - Hilliard
Ground School I	May 6, 2024	TBD
Ground School II	May 20, 2024	TBD
Airport Fun Day	June 10, 2024	JPs @Bolton Airport
End of Summer Cookout	September9, 2023	TBD

CCYA Board Members

View Board member bios. . . www.ccyayoungaviators.org/board

Jay Lindner - President / Founder

Tom Backus - Vice President

Lynn McNabb - Secretary

Jill Spradlin - Treasurer

Thomas Miller - Compliance

John Collins - Program Chair

Shreekanth Chutkay - Marketing Chair

Ethan Peterson - Business Development Chair

Heather Backus

Jessica Collins

Holli Houseworth

CCYA Community Testimonials

View Testimonials . . www.ccyayoungaviators.org/board

Jay Lind ner, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®

CCYA President / Founder

Retirement Strategies, Ltd. President & CEO

As every private pilot knows, one of the true joys about being able to fly an airplane is to be able to share that unique experience with others and see the true enjoyment on their faces, kids and adults alike . . . Read More HERE

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Steve Kinsey

Vice President & Assistant Chief Flight Instructor – Capital City Aviation Flight Club

City of Columbus Police – Helicopter Pilot & CCYA - Youth Flight Instructor

I am incredibly grateful for the transformative impact that the Capital City Young Aviators Initiative has had on some of the lives of our local youth that are at-risk, and it's an honor to be part of this empowering program as an instructor and volunteer . . . Read More HERE

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Kim Emch

Founder and Executive Director, Festa

I am the founder and Executive Director of Festa. Since 2007 while serving our neighbors, we have been connecting children and their families to resources. We care deeply about building connections that change lives. One such connection is with Capital City Young Aviators (CCYA) . . . Read More HERE

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Doug Hammon

Chair, Columbus State Community College, Transportation Maintenance Technology

I have over thirty years of experience in the transportation industry, a majority of that time in the aviation field. During that time, youth outreach and engagement has been a priority of mine. The outreach programs I’ve implemented and those with which I am currently involved focus primarily on underrepresented youth, underemployed individuals, and minority recruitment . . . Read More HERE