El Pomar Foundation Provides Funding for National Museum of World War II Aviation

Dec. 14, 2010 - PRLog -- (COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) The board of directors of the National Museum of World War II Aviation is proud to announce receipt of planning grants from El Pomar Foundation, and from the Anna Keesling Ackerman Fund, which El Pomar Foundation oversees.

The grants, totaling $40,000, will be used for museum exhibition design and planning.

The National Museum of World War II Aviation will be located on 20 acres adjacent to a main runway at the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport and Peterson Air Force Base.  Visit http://www.worldwarIIaviation.org for details.

Colorado Springs was chosen for the museum because of the community’s strong support for its military heritage, significant population of active duty and retired military personnel, proximity to the U.S. Air Force Academy, excellent flying weather, and its rich array of cultural and natural attractions.

The National Museum of World War II Aviation is located adjacent to WestPac Restorations, one of the nation’s premier restorers of WWII-vintage aircraft. Visitors to the museum will also tour the restoration facility and view aircraft restoration in progress.

One of the nation’s top museum exhibition designers, Gallagher and Associates of Bethesda, Md.  Visit http://www.gallagherdesign.com for details, whose recent credits include the Gettysburg National Military Park and Visitor’s Center, the Jamestown Settlement museum in Williamsburg, Va, the Normandy (France) American Visitor’s Center and the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, has been selected as the design firm for the National Museum of World War II Aviation. Gallagher and Associates has completed the initial concepts for the museum’s visitor experience.

The support of El Pomar is instrumental in helping the museum to reach its goal of $500,000 to complete the next important phase of museum planning. The museum is actively soliciting additional donations from individuals, corporations, and other foundations to reach this goal.

Completion of this planning phase will allow the museum to develop the detailed plans and budgetary figures required to mount a capital fundraising campaign to underwrite the costs of the building and exhibitions, presently estimated to be $12-15 million dollars.

“We consider the financial support of El Pomar Foundation critical in setting the stage for fundraising activities, and we appreciate their confidence in our plans for the National Museum of World War II Aviation,” said Bill Klaers, co-chairman of the museum’s board of directors.

Col. James Stewart (USAF, ret.), co-chair of the museum’s board of directors with Klaers, agrees: “El Pomar’s gift, in keeping with its tradition of supporting organizations that meaningfully contribute to Colorado, shows that the museum’s vision fills a need to ensure we always remember how American society was united during WWII.”

The mission of the National Museum of World War II Aviation is to provide unique educational experiences that promote a deeper understanding of the historical importance of American aviation in World War II and its role in shaping the world in which we live.

When complete, the museum will bring to life such important stories as:

-- How the people of the United States came together as never before or since in carrying the war effort
-- How pilots and their support personnel, whose courage and patriotism remain a source of
inspiration, helped changed the course of world history
-- The unique partnership between civilian and military expertise that created a winning
aviation team
-- The surge in industrial productivity that overwhelmed our adversaries
-- The introduction of women into the workforce
-- The aircraft designers and builders whose innovations created entirely new technologies for flying

The National Museum of World War II Aviation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. All
contributions are tax deductible. The future site of the museum is 755 Aviation Way, Colorado Springs, CO 80916. Donations can be made through the museum website.  

Visit http://www.worldwarIIaviation.org or by calling 719.637.7559.

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