The Tahnimara Foundation for New Pilots

Roy Foote dedicated his adult life to reaching for the stars. He fell in love with ballooning in 1986 and logged over 2,500 hours in balloons as a commercial lighter-than-air pilot in the Pacific Northwest.

Roy touched the hearts of many through his flying and the relationships he cultivated with leaders and friends who went on to become pillars in the community of ballooning and of life itself.

The Tahnimara Foundation continues Roy’s legacy by inspiring future generations of pilots and those who love the sky. Through donations and charitable giving, the foundation provides scholarships to help new pilots with educational expenses. These scholarships help defray the costs of lighter-than-air education flights and training time. Additional assistance may also be available to help with procuring aircraft to fly.

Our mission is to promote, encourage, and educate new pilots in the safety and proper use of hot air balloons through mentoring, recommendations, assistance, and related programs.