Steve Kroop, Team leader, is raising donations and selling
tee-shirts and DVDs

Connie Locke <>
Executive Director, Foundation for Free Flight, writes:

Far too often our pilots go to competitions on a shoestring. Most
sports have large corporate sponsors to help fund them and send them to
represent the US in fine fashion. This simply isn't the case when it comes to
hang gliding and paragliding in the US. Pilots are left to self fund or to find
related sponsors to help with the sometimes wieldy costs related to competition.
Often pilots choose not to compete when they can't find outside funding to
offset the costs related to attending competitions.



This year the World Paragliding Team showed the foresight to begin a campaign to
self fund by forming a non-profit corporation in order to collect contributions
to cover the cost of sending their team to the Worlds in Australia. This proved
to be very successful and they were able to fund the team to attend the event.
While this was a great concept and encouraged by the Foundation, the fact
remains that there are other aspects of competition for our sport that still
need funding.



The majority of the donations received by the Foundation are targeted for Site
Preservation. Of course, without flying sites there is no flying, therefore site
preservation is vital to everyone and should receive the most attention.
Competition pilots often request grants for funds that are non-existent.



During the Spring Meeting of the Foundation for Free Flight held at Wallaby
Ranch in Florida, we reviewed a request for a matching funds grant towards
funding fees for the US Hang Gliding World Team. Flytec and Monarch
Manufacturing each put up $500, for a total of $1000, which the Foundation
agreed to match. During the meeting The Foundation challenged the World Team to
come with an additional $1500 by July 15th, at which point the Foundation will
match the $1500.



The Foundation further challenges all pilots to help support competition pilots
by contributing either directly to them or to the Foundation in order to help
fund the teams representing our sports. The Foundation would like to be able to
help our competitive pilots be able to attend the competitions in a manner
appropriate for the largest free country in the world. Please help by donating
to the various competition funds.



 One way to do this is when you renew your membership with the USHPA you
are given an opportunity to donate to the Foundation and you simply send the
extra funds to whatever designation you would like to support. You can also make
direct donations directly through the Foundation by mailing it to the Foundation
for Free Flight office at P O Box 518; Dunlap, CA 93621 or by visiting our
website at www.ushgf.org and
accessing the Donate Now button.

Jim Zeiset and Steve Kroop have raised an additional $700 in
donations so far and only need another $800 to get matching funds from the
USHGF. See here:
http://flytec.com/worldteam/index.html. 



Steve sold out of National team tee-shirt and is ordering more right now.