From aviation legacy to an education foundation
The Breitling Huntington Beach Airshow not only pays homage to the aviation legacy of the city; it also benefits and provides a kick off of the new Aerospace Education Foundation of Huntington Beach (AEFHB) which intends to aid the next generation of aviation and aerospace scientists and engineers.
The Boeing Co. will sponsor the kickoff ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach.
The AEFHB lifts off in the midst of the inaugural Breitling Huntington Beach Airshow (Oct. 21–23), bringing the aviation spotlight to Huntington Beach with the Air Force Thunderbirds and Breitling Jet Team as the headliners to this premier airshow on the West Coast.
“The AEFHB has been founded with the mission and belief that every young person with a dream of being part of the aerospace or aviation industries deserves the chance to make that dream come true,” said Lt. Col. Dan Page (U.S. Army, Ret.), executive director of the new foundation.
“It’s our goal to break down the barriers of entry to these fields and to help support the next generation of pioneers” through scholarships, grants and mentoring programs to youth with a keen interest in the aerospace and aviation fields, Page said.
The kickoff event begins at 6 p.m., and will include a buffet dinner, cocktails and a meet-and-greet with select airshow performers. The evening will include both silent and live auctions featuring a Chronomat 44 Breitling Jet Team American Tour Watch, and a Suzuki motorcycle.
Tickets are $100 per person. Table and other sponsorships are available. For more information about the AEFHB event, go to http://aefhb. com/ or call (714) 841-6777 to purchase tickets.
The Foundation board of directors include Page; George Muellner, retired from Boeing as president of Advanced Systems for the Integrated Defense Systems; Gen. Larry Davis (U.S. Army, Ret.); Brett Barnes, managing partner of Duke’s Restaurant in Huntington Beach; Curt Castagna, CEO of the Aerolease and Aeroplex business entities; and Jeff Snow, the former president of Rainbow Environmental Services, a Republic Services Company.