The Ryan J. Poe Foundation’s mission is to "Utilize aviation to provide a path for young people to realize their dreams". Greg Poe found early on that focus and dedication to a passion could yield incredible results, and we now share that message with America’s youth.

Poe was one of the nation’s premiere airshow performers, thrilling millions with his original, exciting maneuvers in some of the world’s most exotic aerobatic aircraft. He began the Elevate Your Life program after losing his son to heroin addiction in 2002. After Ryan’s death, Poe realized that it was the distraction, not the drugs that took his son, so he took his own story of success though focus and determination, crafted it into a dynamic, multimedia thrill ride for children and parents, and began delivering his presentation at schools around the country in conjunction with his airshow appearances. His message of focusing on your dreams and shunning distraction has been a tremendous success, and since its inception in 2004, the program has reached in excess of 50,000 young people.

After Greg Poe’s passing in 2011, the torch passed to his airshow announcer and close friend, Dax Wanless. A champion bodybuilder and former Mr. Wisconsin, Dax now tells his own motivational story of how a young boy from a small town overcame many challenges to realize his dreams of becoming an international competition bodybuilder. He used his formula of success to follow another passion: aviation. It was through realizing this dream that he met Greg Poe, and soon the two became great friends.

The goal of Elevate Your Life is to empower today’s young people to rise above the distractions of drugs and other dangerous activities and realize that they have the ability to soar in any direction they choose. It is not a preachy "Don’t Do Drugs" seminar, rather it is a fun, motivational experience designed to light the fires of ambition.

The program gives children of all ages something to take away… smiles, laughter, hope, some of life’s stark realities and a lot of encouragement. Dax inspires his audiences to find something they love, to allow themselves to dream, to set goals, open up their hearts and to reach for the sky.

It is a wonderfully synergetic program for young people, teachers, parents, and the media. Most events include essay contests and aerobatic plane rides for several children, and the program also includes fundraising opportunities for the school or organization. There are also several "Pay it Forward" opportunities that our organization supports that schools can get involved with.

 

At school events, an essay contest is held in the weeks prior to each presentation, and winners for the best "Elevate Your Life" essays are selected to go for the ride of a lifetime with Dax in his MX2 showplane.

 


"I wanted to take a moment to thank you for the very motivating and inspiring Elevate Your Life presentation you performed at Seven Springs Middle School! Our students enjoyed your enthusiasm and spark for setting your goals and achieving them. You are doing great things for our youth through the Ryan Poe Foundation AND our planet, as I later learned about your ethanol usage on the website. Thanks for being such a positive role model and example of hard work and dedication to our students!!

- Dora Martin, Seven Springs Middle School, Tampa, FL

Bring Elevate Your Life to  your school or organization!

PROGRAM DETAILS:

Download the Elevate Your Life Overview
and Support Manual

Contact Greg Gibson
(208) 473-0923 or ggibson@gregpoe.com

"Our students returned to school the day after your presentation in awe of what you are able to accomplish in your plane, and they clearly remembered your message of making good decisions now to accomplish their dreams in the future"

"I was inspired by your message that everyone has the ability to achieve anything they desire. All it takes is passion and determination. There are no limits to a person's dreams anything is possible"

"It was the ride of a lifetime! I am honored that he (Poe) took the time out of his day to take an interest in me!"

Please mail donations to:
Ryan J. Poe Foundation
518 Dishman Pl.
Caldwell, ID 83605

Or call to make a credit card donation over the phone: (208) 455-0700