Oprah Magazine recognized Kimberly Anyadike, a graduate of the after-school programs at Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum (TAM) in Compton, California.

Kimberly’s age-defying — she was seventeen at the time –solo flight (a full-fledged pilot was with her)  across the United States was an event for the record books.  She’s pictured with the single-engine Cessna she used for that flight.  The signatures?  Tuskegee Airmen who are honored by the TAM and its founder, stunt pilot, entrepreneur and philanthropist Robin Petgrave.

Compton’s High School graduation rate of 47% is one of the lowest in the nation.  This is, partially, why Mr. Petgrave, along with his wife Myra, have so thoroughly invested themselves and their families in this program: they believe, by providing a place for at-risk high school students to be safe and learn about flying, these young people can aspire and grow towards a productive, healthy life.

The Minerva Project’s Randy Zarn, AVP Emeritus of Cal State Dominguez Hills, is helping to identify and recruit consulting talents to assist with Fund Raising Strategy and execution.  He is also participating with and collaborating with a Team of Consultants from The Taproot Foundation who are engaged in strategy development.

One of the Minerva Project’s Senior Consultants is also working with TAM’s Board Chairman Tony Marshall, a Vietnam Vet and retired United Airlines senior pilot, to increase capacity in the Board of Directors.

TAM is poised for significant growth in 2011-12.  If you would like to donate — see PayPal button below — to their After School Program “Aviation Explorers,” funds are needed for computers, joysticks and yokes (computer interfaces).  $129 funds one computer yoke for Flight Simulator.

(Please note: Community Building Foundation, Inc., an active 501(c)3 organization, the fiscal sponsor for The Minerva Project, is collecting donations.