INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Levitetz Family Foundation has come to the aid of Southeast Florida Honor Flight again by issuing a Matching Funds Challenge to raise money necessary to fly WWII and Korean War veterans to Washington, D.C .to see the memorials built in honor of their service. They will match the first $37,500 raised dollar for dollar so that, at a minimum, a potential $75,000 can be raised for the scheduled Sept. 10, 2016 flight.
The Levitetz Family Foundation, Inc. of Boca Raton, dedicated to partnering with organizations locally and internationally, rose to the challenge last summer when Southeast Florida announced a call to action for urgent funding. At that time, they graciously donated support for the October flight that was in jeopardy of cancellation. This year, the Levitetz Board of Directors has decided to make their donation a challenge to the community with the offer to match funds.
The Levitetz Family Foundation, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in October 2010, supports an array of categories of need within the community including children, seniors and animal rescue. “Local involvement is important to us,” states Foundation board member Alan Rutner. “We were looking for a veteran organization with which we could have a strong connection. The timing was right when Southeast Florida Honor Flight was brought to our attention.” Southeast Honor Flight is grateful for the Foundation’s donation which will help fly local WWII and Korean War veterans to Washington, D.C. for a day of honor.
To help meet Honor Flight’s need for funding to pay tribute to America’s veterans and to participate in the Levitetz Matching Funds Challenge, donations can be made online at www.honorflightsefl.org or sent to Southeast Florida Honor Flight, Inc., PO Box 1503, Stuart, FL 34995.
Each Honor Flight transports veterans to Washington, D.C. for the day to visit and reflect at the U.S. Marine Memorial (Iwo Jima), Arlington National Cemetery, the World War II Memorial and the Korean War Memorial. Funds raised pay for 80-85 veterans to fly on a chartered American Airlines A319, four motor coaches for the day’s transport, police escort and meals, t-shirts and hats for the veterans. Dates for the next two Southeast Florida Honor Flights in 2016 are Sept. 10 and Oct. 8.
Southeast Florida Honor Flight, a 100 percent volunteer 501(c)(3) organization, schedules four trips to Washington, D.C. per year for local veterans in Indian River, Saint Lucie, Okeechobee, Martin and Palm Beach counties.