Annual Report 2015 Fifty-five years ago . Mission A banker, a disc jockey, and a lawyer The Air Force Museum Foundation, Inc was chartered sat down around a dinner table in 1960 as a Section 501(c)(3) private, non-profit one night. Their mission was to keep organization with the purpose of assisting the aviation history in the community National Museum of the United States Air Force™ in its where it was born. efforts to tell the Air Force story and inspire our youth. The Foundation is the philanthropic corporation It was the fall of 1960 and Dayton, that assists in the development and expansion of the facilities of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Ohio was in danger of losing the Air Force. In addition, the Foundation provides funds Force Museum. Having outgrown its each year to the Museum for special projects and temporary space, the Museum was underwrites several programs involving a wide range being courted by many different of activities geared toward education, volunteer communities. support, special events, and promotional efforts. The National Museum of the United States Air Force is a Banker C. Frank Scarborough, disc USAF facility that is funded by the Air Force for normal jockey John H. Fraim, and lawyer operations and maintenance costs. James F. Barnhart decided to form a foundation to preserve and expand the Air Force Museum. To seal the deal, each man put five dollars on the dinner table as a first donation. Within weeks, the Articles of Incorporation were signed. On November 22, 1960 the Air Force Museum Foundation was born. Air Force Museum Foundation Board of Trustees Pictured (Left to Right) at table: Mr. Philip L. Soucy – President; Ms. Frances A. Duntz – Chairman; Col (Ret) James B. Schepley – Vice President; Standing: Mr. David C. Evans; Dr. Pamela A. Drew; Mr. Robert J. Suttman II, CFA – Treasurer; Mr. Gregory G. Lockhart; Lt Gen (Ret) Richard V. Reynolds; Mr. Roger D. Duke; Col (Ret) Mark N. Brown; Brig Gen (Ret) Paul R. Cooper; Mr. Harry W. (Wes) Stowers Jr; Mr. Benjamin T. Guthrie Not Pictured: Dr. Deborah E. Barnhart, CAPT (Ret), USN; Mr. John G. Brauneis; Dr. Thomas J. Burns, PhD; Col (Ret) Frederick D. Gregory Sr.; Maj Gen (Ret) E. Ann Harrell; CMSgt (Ret) Eric R. Jaren; Lt Gen (Ret) C. D. Moore II; Col (Ret) Susan E. Richardson; Gen (Ret) Charles T. Robertson Jr; Maj Gen (Ret) Darryl A. Scott; Mr. Scott J. Seymour; Mr. Erik D. Smith November 22, 1960: A22 0 Air Force Museum Foundation is incorporated A Message from the Foundation Chairman Dear Friends of the National Museum of the United States Air Force, I am so proud to be serving as chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, especially during the milestone year of the Museum’s fourth building completion, and on the eve of its grand opening. Our accomplishment in funding 100 percent of this vital Museum asset underscores the Foundation’s 55 years of extraordinary service—in which the Foundation has funded 94 percent of the entire one-million-square-foot Museum campus. On behalf of the entire Foundation, I‘m deeply grateful for your generous and steadfast support on this road we have traveled together. In the annual report, we share with you highlights not just from the past year but from 55 years of the Foundation’s extraordinary support for the Museum’s mission. The successful completion of the construction activities for the fourth building last fall was a highlight of 2015, and the culmination of a series of milestones achieved as a team. The Museum, the Foundation, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base organizations, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Turner Construction worked together to make the fourth building a reality. In 2015 the Foundation delivered funding for the west tow path, STEM learning nodes two and three, and for expanded information technology requirements, making this the first building completed with all of the Museum’s requests! I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished as a result of more efficient and innovative operations in the Foundation’s business units—the Museum Store, the Theatre and Simulators, and the Café. Every area experienced unprecedented growth, in some cases, smashing previous sales records. The Museum Store introduced exciting new military and aviation-themed products, resulting in one million dollars in net income, a whopping 14 percent increase over 2014 performance. Our Museum Theatre achieved strong financial performance as well, with both theLiving History and Hollywood series attracting many people to the Theatre. Our Salute to Heroes program featured Maj Gen Patrick H. Brady, USA (Ret) and was a meaningful way for the public to engage with our heroes in uniform. The Valkyrie Café delivered a strong performance in 2015 due to updated menu items and improved food services. The Refueling Café above the Missile Gallery will be updated and expanded just in time for the June 2016 fourth building opening festivities—make sure to check out the exciting new space during June’s opening week. You’ll be amazed! The Development team achieved remarkable success by implementing new strategies in planned giving and annual appeals, delivering $1.16M in net income. In addition, the team is using the results from the independent assessment of the Development area to increase awareness of, and support for, the Foundation’s philanthropic mission. The Friends Journal continued its role connecting members to the Museum they support by highlighting each of the fourth building’s new galleries in each of the quarterly issues. The 2014 annual report produced by the Friends Journal team was a finalist for an Ohio Travel Association RUBY award for excellence. I applaud our Foundation’s Executive Director, Mike Imhoff, and every one of his team members for their hard work in 2015, continuing a 55-year tradition of excellence that has led to the completion of the Museum’s fourth building. As we look forward to the grand opening next month, we invite you to visit and enjoy this moment with us. We are successful because of our great partnership with the Museum, our community partners, and your continued support as members and volunteers. I sincerely appreciate every smile we see and every kind word we hear—my deepest thanks to you! Fran Duntz, SES (Ret) Chairman, Board of Trustees Air Force Museum Foundation, Inc. A3 November 22, 1960: 0 Air Force Museum Foundation is incorporated From Our Friends . Membership As a member of the Friends of the The Friends of the National Museum of the U.S. Air National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Force program begun by the Air Force Museum “program—as well as a Museum Foundation 55 years ago, continues to engage volunteer—it is a joy to be associated a loyal and enthusiastic membership which has with those who appreciate the need helped fund four Museum buildings. In 2015, the to share the history of flight and the program attracted more than 1,600 new members, an increase in new members of almost 13 percent deeds of our valiant warriors with the over 2014. Our strong community of nearly 12,000 millions who visit this Museum.” supporters donated more than $485K in membership dues during the year, and over $170K in additional Kenneth A. Dunning, PhD donations! These contributions helped to fund additional components to the Museum’s new fourth building, like the west tow path. When I lead Scouts through the Museum halls, I hope that what they The Friends desk in the Museum’s front lobby was “see and learn ignites the passion upgraded in 2015 with digital signage and an overall that will lead a youngster to become improved appearance. These aesthetic changes a future 'blue suiter'.” better reflect the Foundation’s philanthropic role and the national prestige of the world’s largest aviation museum which the Foundation supports. Robert A. Johnson III In 2015, donations for the Foundation’s colorful, detailed Museum maps totaled almost $54K I’m proud of the fact of having contributing significantly to the Foundation’s mission been in the Air Force, and I wanted to to support expansion and programs at the National “belong to a world-class organization Museum of the U.S. Air Force. that supports it.” Gary Gravette I spent 37 years in the Air Force, and I’m a member to keep that “connection to the Air Force going.” Larry Stulz The firstFriends Bulletin in Spring 1978 described itself as a newsletter but promised to “grow through the years.” The most recent issue of the Friends Journal magazine, on the right, reflects the promised growth, as well as the Foundation’s commitment to excellent support of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force™.. First building opens Two-story addition opens A4 Development Wall of Honor There were 95 new data plates added to the Wall of Honor in 2015, for a total of 855 stories of innovation, devotion, and bravery represented there. The Foundation’s annual Legacy Data Plate Wall of Honor Tribute Ceremony, on May 21, 2015, was again a distinctive opportunity for reflection and remembrance of those honored with data plates, which attracted hundreds to pay their respects the Thursday before Memorial Day. Visit www.LegacyDataPlates.com to read the stories In beautiful, hand-written calligraphy, President of those honored with a Data Plate at the National Richard Nixon’s remarks at the 1971 Museum Museum of the U.S. Air Force. dedication introduce a very special, oversized red leather-bound book of names. The United States Air Force Museum, Donor Recognition book acknowledges the visionaries whose support built the first building of what is today the National Museum of the United States Air Force.