Melvin Mateo

My name is Melvin Mateo.  Aviation has been a major passion for my life. I can go back as far as when I was about six or seven and I got interested in Aviation.  About one or two years after that, I was already gaining aviation knowledge by myself that I acquired from reading FAA aviation books, looking at videos from real pilots, and even flying on the flight simulator on a very well-known network called "VATSIM" that I still fly on today.  On VATSIM, I learned more about the radio phraseology part of aviation.  By the time I was eight or nine, I was already starting to read and use Aviation charts when I would fly on VATSIM.   Whenever a plane passed by me when I was flying, I would feel a chill come over me that would make me feel an even closer connection with aviation.  Today, one of my favorite things to do is to go plane spotting so I can get a closer look at the planes.  I go on my house roof with my dad to see the planes landing on runways 25L and 25R at LAX from about a two-mile distance away.  Whenever I feel the vibrations of the mighty aircraft engines, I smile in great excitement.

Currently, I'm in the best program I could ever have wished for, called "Giving Kids Wings Flight Academy," with the best, heart- warming teacher I’ve known!  I never even knew an Aviation program like this existed.  If I could be given the chance to expand my knowledge in aviation with the opportunity to begin flight training, it would mean the greatest thing to me, so much so that I could hardly explain it!  The airport is like my second home as I like to say.  I always get the chills, pride, and so much inspiration from seeing a plane on final approach, departure, or taxiing.  I enjoy listening to LAX live Air Traffic Control feeds for hours and sometimes even go to sleep while listening to it.  It makes me feel close to my greatest passion of all, aviation.

If you would like to help Melvin begin his flight training, you may choose a package donation below or click the "donate" button to the right and designate a specific amount.  Be sure to name him as the recipient of your donation in a letter (address at right) or in an email:  givingkidswings@gmail.com.  

$100 - Orville Wright

Help Melvin acquire the necessary supplies to successfully complete his ground training including a pilot’s kneeboard, navigational Chart, flight computer, and other basic materials.  

$200 - Wilbur Wright

Covers the cost of Melvin's ground training materials and can be used to pay for a full flight lesson with an instructor.

$500 - Charles Lindbergh 

Your donation at the Lindbergh level will supply Melvin with all of the ground school supplies contained at the Orville and Wilbur Wright Levels and will sponsor his instruction for an entire semester in the Aviation 101:  Private Pilot course.  It can also be used to begin his flight training towards his Private License.  

$1,000 - Amelia Earhart

Your donation at the Lindbergh level will supply Melvin with all of the ground school supplies contained at the Orville and Wilbur Wright Levels and will also sponsor him for an entire year in the Aviation 101:  Private Pilot course.  It can also be used to begin his flight training towards his Private License.

$5,000 - Fred Pitcher

Sponsors Melvin for two full years while he completes the Private Pilot and Instrument Pilot courses and will provide a scholarship to cover about half of his Private Pilot flight training.  

$10,000 - Bessie Coleman

Covers all of the basics and sponsors Melvin as he works toward completing his Private Pilot license and Instrument Rating in preparation for a piloting career.