Tribute to Tom Poberezny Memorial

About This Campaign

This campaign celebrates the life and legacy of Tom Poberezny by helping create a bronze sculpture of Tom, and founding a special scholarship fund in his name. The sculpture will be placed permanently in the EAA Museum near an existing sculpture of Tom’s father, Paul, who founded EAA. Future gifts will expand a named scholarship to sustain the spirit of EAA exemplified by Tom far and wide in a new generation of aviation enthusiasts. Tom Poberezny was responsible for funding, designing and building the Museum, expanding the annual AirVenture Oshkosh Fly-in and launching education initiatives like Young Eagles that take place around the world every day. Contributions will extend the story of a founding father’s dream and the son who made it a reality—and inspire young people to fly it into the future. Gifts are tax-deductible and restricted to the above purposes within the EAA Aviation Foundation. Note: Please scroll below to see a list of leadership donors who have launched this “Tribute to Tom” project with gifts already totaling almost $200,000.

More about the Sculpture and Scholarship

Renowned sculptor George Lundeen has been commissioned to create a life-size bronze sculpture of Tom in the museum entrance gallery, gazing upward at the Red Devils and Christen Eagles aircraft he flew for 25 years suspended overhead. Lundeen has created aviation sculptures for world-class museums, airports and public facilities, including Jack Swigert and Amelia Earhart in Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol. The scholarship in Tom’s name will be administered by the EAA Aviation Foundation in conjunction with the EAA Young Eagles Program, providing opportunities for some of nearly 2.5 million Young Eagles worldwide to follow in his contrails. The sculpture and scholarship will be installed and celebrated at AirVenture Oshkosh in July 2023.

About Tom

Tom Poberezny left a tremendous aviation legacy with his achievements as an aerobatic pilot and the growth of EAA, where he worked for 42 years. He served for 34 years as Chairman of the annual Oshkosh fly-in (now called AirVenture) as it doubled in size and became widely recognized as the world’s premier aviation event. In the early 80s, Tom led the campaign to build the EAA museum and the world-class exhibits that are in it. As EAA President from 1989 to 2010, Tom nurtured the organization’s unique culture of participation and grew its mission in countless ways. Perhaps most notable was his emphasis on youth initiatives to secure a positive future for aviation. Tom started the Young Eagles program, which is now on its way to taking three million kids for their first airplane ride. He also oversaw the development of the EAA Air Academy and KidVenture. In addition to his contributions to EAA, Tom was an accomplished pilot. With Charlie Hillard and Gene Soucy he won the 1972 World Aerobatic Team Championship, beginning an unprecedented 25 years of air show flying with the same aerobatic team members to worldwide acclaim and without a single incident. Tom was also the 1973 U. S. National Unlimited Aerobatic Champion.

About the Sculptor

George Lundeen is an internationally renowned sculptor who is widely known for his detailed, highly polished bronzes. He achieved the status of full Academician of the National Academy of Design in New York, the highest professional recognition bestowed on visual arts in America. He has been commissioned to sculpt portraits for numerous universities, municipalities, foundations, and corporations. His aviation portfolio includes life-size sculptures of Amelia Earhart and astronaut Jack Swigert displayed in the National Statuary Hall at the Capitol Rotunda in Washington DC; Elrey Jeppesen at the Denver International Airport; Sally Ride at the Cradle of Aviation Museum; and the Apollo 11 crew at the Kennedy Space Center.

Leadership Donations

Special thanks to the following donors who “launched” the Tribute to Tom project before this GoFundMe campaign was started with leadership gifts totaling almost $200,000 (alphabetical order):

Greg & Beth Anderson

Connie Bowlin

Kristine Buechler

Frank Christensen

Michael Dale

John Dunham

Experimental Aircraft Association

Ron & Diane Fagen

James Gorman

David Gustafson

Richard Hansen

Jack Harrington

Jim Irwin

Dale Klapmeier

Lynn Krogh

Ray Foundation

Lewis Shaw

Brian Smith

Cosby Stone

Richard Sugden

Fred Telling

Richard Van Grunsven

John L. Vette

Vintage Aircraft Association

Warbirds of America

Kermit Weeks

Gary & Cristina Worden

Additional information