AMA Foundation Heritage and Legacy Society donor Robert A. Studinksi bequeathed more than $75,000 to the Foundation's Endowment Fund. The Academy of Model Aeronautics and the AMA Foundation would like to thank Robert Studinski and his family for this generous gift. The Foundation Endowment Fund provides funding in perpetuity to the AMA benevolent programs through annual earnings and returns, leaving the fund's corpus untouched.
Mr. Studinski's contribution will have a major impact on the future funding of programs at AMA and will ensure that we are able to continue upholding the joy of flight for modelers of all ages across the country.
If you would like to learn more about Robert's life and his history with model aviation, continue reading the obituary provided by his loved ones.
Mr. Studinski's contribution will have a major impact on the future funding of programs at AMA and will ensure that we are able to continue upholding the joy of flight for modelers of all ages across the country.
If you would like to learn more about Robert's life and his history with model aviation, continue reading the obituary provided by his loved ones.
Robert Ambrose Studinski passed away at his home in Benton, KY on February 24, 2020.
He was born on January 16, 1933 in Avon Lake, Illinois to Ambrose and Mary (Gorzella) Studinski.
Robert was in the Army from 1953 through 1955 and continued in the reserves until 1961. He served in Germany in the 2nd armored division. During that time he collected beer steins for himself and Hummel's for his mother.
Robert married Leah Cook on November 22, 1958 and they built a house in Big Rock, IL, where he worked for Lyon Metal Products in Montgomery, IL for 45 years. He started as a designer, and by the his time of retirement, he had become a Product Development Manager.
Robert and Leah, for their retirement, bought 16 acres in Benton, KY near Leah's sister, Vernyce Lawrence, and husband, Dean, where they built a home that included a barn with a loft.
Robert was a pilot and had a passion for airplanes. From an early age, he would build fly wire planes. Later in life he would buy RC kits that he equally enjoyed building. The barn and loft is where Robert spent a great deal of time building radio controlled model aircraft of all sizes from a wing span of 1 foot to a wing span of 6 feet. He enjoyed flying with a local flying club, and was an active AMA member.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ambrose and Mary Studinski, and his wife Leah who passed away in July of 2014. He is survived by nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
The AMA Foundation received a bequest gift of $10,000 to assist with education and National Model Aviation Museum efforts. The AMA and AMA Foundation would like to thank Dr. Warren Knapp and his family for this generous gift. Dr. Knapp, a member of both the AMA Foundation Heritage and Legacy Societies, requested these funds be allocated upon his passing.
Warren W. Knapp passed away on October 3, 2020 in Ithaca, NY. He was an avid modeler and enjoyed flying with the Ithaca Radio Control Society. For more than 30 years, he was a professor in Atmospheric Studies at Cornell University as well as served as the Director of the Northeast Regional Climate Center.
Warren's contribution will have a major impact on the lives of future students through educational programming and will help the National Model Aviation Museum in their efforts to continue preserving the history of model aviation.
If you would like to learn more about Dr. Knapp and his history with model aviation and meteorology, you can read his obituary HERE.
In memory of fellow AMA member, Andy Kane, the Southwest Area Park R/C Model Airplane Club made a $100 donation to the AMA Foundation. Andy was a true ambassador of the hobby, not only for his home club (DCRC), but also for numerous local and regional clubs. He attended the majority of the club's annual major events over the past 25 years helping to make them the successes they were. His leadership and promotion of radio-controlled modeling will surely be missed.
On Saturday November 9, 2019 at the Casa Grande RC Flyers event celebrating National Model Aviation Day, club Treasurer Nancy Friedman presented a check from the Diane Warren Foundation for $2,000.00, and a check from the Robson Ranch Mah Jong Club for $209.00, to the Valley Humane Society. VHS Board President Deb Woodard and Shelter Manager Crystal Fox received the donations. Besides those funds, the individuals who attended the club’s event at 2725 S Isom Road, were very generous providing the VHS with hundreds more for their shelter, which is the areas only no-kill shelter. Each winter month, the Casa Grande RC Flyers, which is an Academy of Model Aeronautics award winning club, holds events for the public’s enjoyment and for the benefit of area charities. Their events are listed on the club’s web site: www.CasaGrandeRCFlyers.com. Besides the donation presentation, this day’s events included free flying lessons by one of the club’s instructors using his training aircraft, a swap meet with RC aircraft, cars and boats offered, and a new food service, Salsa Bites, who will attend several of the club’s events this winter. Visitors also had the opportunity to watch the flying visit with the pilots to learn more about this wonderful hobby. Besides the club’s major events on the 2nd Saturday of each winter month, the club also holds weekly Combat Dog Fights and Glider Contests on most Thursday mornings stating around 10:00 AM. A special dog fight took place Saturday in honor of the National Model Aviation Day celebration. Membership information, and event schedule and directions to the club airfield are on the club we site. The club is in their7th year of existence and is proud of all they do for our community. Next month’s charity beneficiary will be the Pets In Need Action League, (P.I.N.A.L.) who provide food and medical assistance to those who have trouble affording those items. Their assistance allows the owns to keep their pets at home and out of shelters. The enclosed photo shows Nancy Friedman, CG RC Flyers Treasurer (Far Right) presenting the checks to Deb Woodard, VHS Board President (middle), with Crystal Fox, VHS Shelter Manager (far left) looking on. 
The Seminole Radio Control Club recently received an AMA Club Recognition and Reward Grant for $75. The club is located in Tallahassee, FL. The club held their event on October 6th from 10am-3pm. The cost on entrance was $15 donation from pilots and $5 for the lunch. Everyone received hamburgers, hot dogs, bottled water, and got to see and participate in model flying. The club provided everything that was need to have a fun day flying. They encouraged new participants to try their hand at flying and ask questions to learn more about the hobby. The AMA Club Recognition and Reward Program was established to encourage clubs to promote model aviation. The AMA offers clubs cash incentives for positive local media coverage for a public event, public service, club announcement, or other coverage. Click here to learn more about this program.
As a recognized 501(c)3 organization, the AMA Foundation is one of the nonprofits Facebook users can choose to support through a special birthday fundraiser. We have had several people conduct these fundraisers online, including Randy Cameron, Executive Vice President on AMA’s Executive Council, and AMA Foundation Director of Development, Mandee Mikulski. 
How does it work? Facebook will automatically give users the option to host a birthday fundraiser right before your birthday. Simply select “Academy of Model Aeronautics Foundation” on the list of charities. The money is collected and then sent to the AMA Foundation office about six weeks later. Because of Facebook privacy rules, donor information is not supplied to the AMA Foundation team. Please contact us to let us know you are hosting a fundraiser. We can then help share your fundraiser, and provide you with a donation credit following the receipt of the funds. We are also happy to provide each donor with recognition if this information is provided to us. Keep in mind these people are contributing for your birthday, so if we do not have donor information we will credit the entire amount to you. We think this is a great way to raise money for the AMA Foundation and also a great way to raise awareness for a cause you care about. Please call us if you have any questions at (765) 287-1256, ext 277. Thank you to everyone who has supported or is planning to support the AMA Foundation in this way! We greatly appreciate your support! 
