The Frontiers of Flight Museum Gala is not just a time for ceremonial grandeur featuring stellar performances by honor guards, drill teams and musical entertainment by Oscar-contending composers, but according to one Dallas philanthropist it’s also a time to celebrate for a good cause. That’s because Gina Ginsburg is serving as Chair of the Frontiers of Flight Museum Gala, Dallas’ premier event to celebrate accomplishments in aviation, set for Friday, April 11 at 6:30 p.m. Ginsburg is leading the charge to generate awareness and support of the gala which benefits the education of the next generation of aviators and astronauts through the Museum’s incredible Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs that reach more than 10,000 students each year. Visit: http://www.flightmuseum.com/2014-gala/.
Joining Ginsburg on the 2014 Frontiers of Flight Museum Gala Committee are: Hugh McElroy, Jan Collmer, Cheryl Sutterfield-Jones, Jess Hall, John Billimek and Heather Dickie. Attendees will welcome many special museum supporters and enjoy an unforgettable evening of fine dining and entertainment. Attire is black tie optional.
During the Frontiers of Flight Museum Gala, themed “Not for Self, But Country,” Ginsburg will herald an evening celebrating service to country and community which will also pay tribute to the 2014 recipients of the George E. Haddaway Award.
The 2014 George E. Haddaway Award co-honorees are Admiral Patrick Walsh (Ret.) and former Navy officer Roger Staubach who will be recognized for their service and achievements in the United States Navy and their lifetime contributions and service to their communities. The awards ceremony will be a highlight of the evening with Ross Perot serving as the guest presenter.
“The Frontiers of Flight Museum Gala is a very special evening dedicated to the accomplishments and contributions to aviation and space exploration and we are particularly proud to be recognizing these two distinguished honorees,” says Ginsburg, mother, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and commercial jet pilot.
This year’s George E. Haddaway Award recipients are both Naval, business and community stalwarts. Admiral Walsh has a distinguished 34-year career in the armed forces flying with the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron “Blue Angels” and in combat operations during Operation Desert Storm. He retired as commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Roger Staubach is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, former Navy officer and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “Both of these gentlemen have continued to serve their country and communities through their countless good works,” says Ginsburg.
As a new board member of the Frontiers of Flight Museum, Ginsburg is particularly interested in using her role as gala chair to help further the organization’s mission to support education. “One of my primary objectives is to help the Museum in its efforts to support its STEM education initiatives and to expose children to opportunities in aviation and space flight,” says Ginsburg.
According to Ginsburg, the Frontiers of Flight Museum has recently received a series of grants toward enhancing and expanding its widely recognized educational programs. “A $50,000 grant from Boeing will help the Museum to go from serving 6,000 students to over 12,000 students on-site and in our satellite location. The grant will also support professional services to develop and expand our STEM content,” says Ginsburg.
Ginsburg was also delighted to share that KXAS-TV NBC 5 provided a $25,000 grant to support the Museum's Flight School Summer Camp at Dallas Executive Airport. “This provides high-quality scientific instruction and career opportunities in the aviation industry to economically underserved children living in Dallas,” says Ginsburg.
Ginsburg explained that the Museum has enjoyed a successful partnership with Blue Sky Education Foundation and DISD to introduce a hands-on six-week Science of Flight program to fourth and fifth graders in 14 DISD schools. Another one of the Museum’s recent education initiatives reached nearly 1,000 students who visited the traveling exhibit, ‘Celebrating the Legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen,’ and met Airmen Homer Hogues, Calvin Spann, Ret. U.S. Air Force Maj. and Yolandea Wood, as well as viewed the acclaimed film, Rise Above.
“The annual Frontiers of Museum Gala is a continuation of the ongoing support we have received to help us fund areas of greatest need and it is a tremendous benefit to the Museum and our community,” says Ginsburg. “We are fortunate to have so many in the North Texas community who understand how important philanthropy is to supporting organizations like the Frontiers of Flight Museum. The Museum is a learning laboratory using aviation and space flight to encourage and promote student excellence in STEM education. In addition, the Museum has over 30 aircraft from the Wright Flyer to the one-of-a-kind Flying Pancake, the Apollo 7 spacecraft, 11 galleries, and over 35,000 historical artifacts on display. The Living History program features the portrayal of prominent personalities in aviation history who present both on-site and in the community. Dallas’ support of the Frontiers of Flight Museum serves to further promote the enrichment of cultural and educational opportunities across North Texas,” she says.
Guests at the Frontiers of Flight Museum Gala will enjoy an elegant evening emceed by NBC 5 News Anchor Meredith Land, featuring fine dining and extraordinary performances. “We are especially pleased this year to include in our entertainment lineup the Hillcrest High School Panaders and the Wylie East High School Air Force JROTC Armed Drill Team,” says Ginsburg. “In addition, Chris Irwin and Jeff Widenhofer, Navy veterans and nationally recognized composers for the documentary, Murph: The Protector, will be performing.”
“As a mom, the work of the Frontiers of Flight Museum is close to my heart because it’s also one of my sons’ favorite places to visit,” says Ginsburg. “Through my own experience I’ve seen what the Museum does firsthand to inspire and educate our children, and I’m delighted to join the Frontiers of Flight Museum in hopes that we can really make a difference to those in our community and help provide much-needed educational programs for all children to enjoy.”
Supporters of the 2014 Frontiers of Flight Museum Gala include: (3-Star $25,000) – Suzanne and Jan Collmer; Gena and Dan Hamilton; (2-Star $10,000) - American Airlines, Boardwalk Auto Group/Gina and Scott Ginsburg; Dallas Airmotive; Averille and Stewart Dawson; Hillwood; Judy and Hugh McElroy; NBC 5/KXAS-TV; Marianne and Roger Staubach; Mrs. Romona Upfield; (1-Star $5,000) – ALON USA; Aviall; Cardinal Green Advisory Services; Cinemark; Millie and Kenneth Cooper; Lou Ann and Mike Corboy; Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport; Dickie+Associates; Mary and Bob Dilworth; Ebby Halliday REALTORS; Events by Bill; Ezra Gentle Films; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation; Herbert Minerals Limited; Huitt-Zollars; Hunt Consolidated, Inc.; Cheryl Sutterfield-Jones and Ron Jones; OsteoMed; Patricia and Blaine Nelson; Pure Water Baths; SAFRAN Labinal Power Systems; Scott Murray/Murray Media; Sewell Automotive Companies; Signature Flight Support Corp.; Southwest Airlines; Southwest Airlines Federal Credit Union; TAC Air; Angela and Jim Thompson/Blue Sky Foundation; Tolleson Wealth Management; University of Texas at Dallas – Eugene McDermott Library, History of Aviation Collection; UPS; Wolfgang Puck Catering.
Individual patron tickets are $250; Various sponsorship levels are available. For more information contact: Jess Hall at (214) 350-3617 or email at hall@flightmuseum.com. For more information visit: http://www.flightmuseum.com/2014-gala/.