While traveling for the first segment of the AMA Foundation's 2026 outreach efforts, AMA Foundation Executive Director Steve Haston met with representatives of the Paradise Valley Community Center in Phoenix, Arizona. After conversations about our organization's mission, Steve was given the opportunity to help introduce upwards of 150 youth to the joy of model aviation—and it was all thanks to the generosity of our donors.
Steve had the following to say about his experience with the Paradise Valley Community Center:
"One of the most meaningful moments of my Arizona journey did not happen on the flightline. It happened at the Paradise Valley Community Center during a conversation about possibility.
"As I shared the mission of AMA and the AMA Foundation at an exclusive informational session for local AMA members, which was held at the Paradise Valley Community Center, the community center's director asked a simple question: 'What would it cost to introduce my kids to model aviation?' Because of the generosity of our donors, I was able to give the best answer possible: nothing!
"That moment captured the heart of the AMA Foundation's work. Donor support is not just funding programs. It's opening doors, creating first experiences, and putting the gift of flight into the hands of young people who may have never imagined it was possible.
"Later that afternoon, I reached out to AMA Foundation Chief Communications Officer Clarissa Poston and asked if we could get 150 balsa gliders, along with an AMA Alpha and Beta, shipped to the community center overnight. Without hesitation, Clarissa coordinated with AMA Foundation Deputy Director Rachelle Haughn and other AMA staff to make it happen. That kind of teamwork says so much about who we are and what we can accomplish together.
"Then came the next blessing. Pilots from the Arizona Scale Aviation Airshow stepped forward and volunteered to teach at the community center. They are not just delivering kits; they're delivering mentorship, encouragement, and the kind of hands-on learning that can change a life.
"There's something especially powerful about beginning with Free Flight. Free Flight is one of the most beautiful disciplines in model aviation. It teaches patience, design, trimming, balance, airflow, and the pure relationship between a model and the sky. It is where many great journeys begin. I know that personally. I started in Free Flight, and 45 years later, I still build and fly.
"Perhaps one of these young people will build that first balsa glider and discover more than a hobby. Perhaps they'll discover confidence, curiosity, and a future in engineering, aviation, or even space exploration.
"That is the true power of this gift. Thanks to our generous donors, we are not just giving away airplanes—we are launching dreams, to the sky and beyond."
