Rick Mantei Inspires Teens
Rock Hill, SC– At the York County Airport on August 14, two teens and their coach from I AM 24/7 in a biplane flight. The nonprofit, based in Charlotte, aims to create a positive generational impact that grows exponentially through peer support. Rick Mantei flew the boys in his 1941 Stearman biplane and spent time […]
Rick Mantei Celebrates 70th Birthday with Heartwarming Visit to Hospice Patient
Rick Mantei marked his 70th birthday with a touching gesture of kindness, visiting 101-year-old Mary Kirby in hospice care alongside his wife Lisa and their daughter Scarlett. Despite it being his special day, Rick’s focus remained on bringing comfort and joy to Mary during her time of need. As Mary sang him happy birthday, the […]
Rick Mantei Brings Gifts to Vickie & Ira Chavis Amid Life’s Challenges
Rick Mantei paid a heartfelt visit to Vickie Chavis and her stepson, Ira, a hospice patient. At 66, Vickie, a devoted teacher, took leave to care for Ira, who battles muscular dystrophy at 48. With the recent loss of her husband, Vickie finds herself without a pension or life insurance, relying solely on Social Security […]
Rick Mantei’s Brings Comfort to Joseph Washington Amid Health Struggles
In a heartfelt visit to Joseph Washington, a former construction worker who now relies on oxygen, Rick Mantei displayed his kindness and empathy. Despite Joseph’s quiet demeanor caused by the severity of his health conditions—COPD, reliance on a pacemaker, and being on oxygen—Rick’s thoughtful gesture spoke volumes. Through a generous cash offering, a Christmas card, […]
Rick Mantei Visits Col. Tom Storey For The Holidays
Over the holiday season, Rick and Lisa Mantei traveled to Tuscon, AZ for a heartfelt reunion with their longtime friend, Col. Tom Storey. A former fighter pilot during the Vietnam War, Col. Storey’s incredible resilience shone through despite enduring over seven years as a POW after being shot down over Hanoi. Storey’s unwavering optimism and […]
Sole Stepping Fundraiser Soars to New Heights at Aiken Regional Airport
Atul Makharia and his team recently organized another Sole Stepping event, this time at Aiken Regional Airport on 10/7/2023. Rick Mantei made a generous contribution, alongside Atul and other attendees, offering their support through varying donation amounts. Here Atul and his team are pictured with Kara Jefferson and her daughter with Sole Stepping, holding up […]
Rick Participates Giving Plane Rides to Thank Midwest Food Bank Volunteers
Rick Mantei (third from right) stands with volunteers from the Georgia branch of Midwest Food Bank. The Falcon Field Regional Airport in Atlanta got a burst of energy on Saturday, September 11th upon the arrival of Rick Mantei and John Wilcox as they met a group of spirited volunteers from Midwest Food Bank in Peachtree […]
Rick Mantei Attends Special Olympics Charity Event
On May 21st, Rick Mantei raised over $1,000 for Happy Hour’s Special Olympics program in Warner Robins, Ga. Mantei was able to raise so much money for the event by selling flights to those in attendance. In additional to the many flights Mantei gave that afternoon, he also flew the program director at Happy Hour, […]
Fly for Foundations – Columbia, August 16, 2025
Fly For Foundations Eagle Aviation at Columbia Metropolitan Airport (August 2025) On Saturday, August 16, 2025, The Mantei Charitable Fund proudly hosted Fly For Foundations at Columbia Metropolitan Airport. The event brought together aviation history, community spirit, and charitable giving in one unforgettable day. Held at Eagle Aviation, attendees had the rare opportunity to experience […]
Soaring for a Cause: Giving Back with Plane Rides for Charity
This past Saturday, July 19th, we had the joy of hosting our Plane Rides for Charity fundraiser at the Aiken Municipal Airport—and what an incredible day it was. Through the Mantei Charitable Fund, we’ve always believed in giving back to the communities we care about. This event brought that mission to life in the most […]