To honor Barron Hilton’s legacy as a supporter of aviation, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation has awarded a half-million-dollar grant to the Endowment Fund of the Ninety-Nines, a nonprofit organization of women pilots dedicated to aerospace training and education. The grant will enable the Ninety-Nines to increase outreach activities, develop more high-quality pilot proficiency education programs, and share the group’s passion for aviation and the Ninety-Nines with others.
In addition to his success as a businessman and entrepreneur, Barron Hilton was a great friend to aviation. During his World War II Navy service, Hilton took private flying lessons and earned his single-engine license. At age 19, he earned his twin-engine rating at USC Aeronautical School. As a longtime aviation enthusiast, Hilton was a major supporter of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles Program, which encourages aircraft owners to give rides to youngsters to introduce them to the joy of flying.
The Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight Gallery is funded by the Hilton Foundation with the hope that future generations of young people let their own dreams soar to new heights.
“It is fitting that we share the goal of the Barron Hilton Pioneers program,” said Mary Wunder, Chair of the Ninety-Nines Endowment Fund. “We are deeply grateful that the Hilton Foundation honors Barron Hilton’s love of aviation with this generous grant to the Ninety-Nines Endowment Fund.”
