WAI Receives $10,000 Grant from the ISTAT Foundation to Support Girls in Aviation Day 2026
WAI Receives $10,000 Grant from the ISTAT Foundation to Support Girls in Aviation Day 2026
ISTAT Foundation grant will help bring Girls in Aviation Day programming to thousands of girls worldwide
September 17, 2026 - Women in Aviation International (WAI) has received a $10,000 grant from the ISTAT Foundation, an organization committed to fostering interest in, creating opportunities for, and providing assistance to the global aviation community through its ISTAT Foundation Education Grant Program. The grant will support WAI's Girls in Aviation Day (GIAD) 2026, a signature program that introduces girls ages 8 to 18 to careers in aviation and aerospace.
“The ISTAT Foundation’s generous support helps us bring Girls in Aviation Day to life for thousands of girls around the world,” says WAI CEO Lynda Coffman. “When a girl sees herself in this industry for the first time, it can change the entire course of her life. We are deeply grateful to the ISTAT Foundation for investing in that moment of possibility and in the future of aviation and aerospace.”
This year, GIAD will bring hands-on activities, mentorship, and inspiration to nearly 35,000 girls at 200 events hosted by WAI chapters and partner organizations across the United States, Europe, Africa, and Asia. The Aviation for Girls magazine, distributed at GIAD events and available digitally, will continue to serve as an integral part of the program thanks to support from sponsors like the ISTAT Foundation.
About The ISTAT Foundation – The ISTAT Foundation is the charitable arm of the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT). Founded in 1994, the ISTAT Foundation invests in and fosters the future of aviation across the globe by supporting individuals and institutions that promote the advancement of commercial aviation and humanitarianism. Annual grants from ISTAT itself, and contributions from individuals and companies, support the ISTAT Foundation’s programs including scholarships, education and humanitarian grants, and internships. For more information, please visit https://foundation.istat.org/
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Media Contact:
Kelly Murphy
WAI Director of Communications
202-909-8380|kmurphy@wai.org