The Southern Heritage Air Foundation of Tallulah, La. received a $25,000 award to help further their mission of helping wounded veterans.

The award money came from Isle of Capri Casinos Community Aces Challenge, a challenge between 123 nonprofit organizations, said Virginia McDowell, Isle’s president and chief executive officer.

“With over 69,000 votes cast in Community Aces Challenge and over 200 applications to participate, our second charitable social media contest has proven to be a wonderful way to give back to the communities where we operate,” she said. “This year the winners offered a wide variety of missions — from getting fit in rural Mississippi to enhancing creativity of young people in Iowa. Our first place winner is dedicated to educating people about the history and impact of aviation.”

Community Aces Challenge is a social media based contest designed for nonprofit projects that improve the quality of life in the communities where Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. operates.

SHAF President Patty Meekus said this was the organizations’ first time to participate in the competition.

“We have an air show, and we thought that would be a great use of the funds, so we could raise more money for the Warrior Bonfire Program through the air show.”

After the first week, Meekus said organization volunteers realized they were in ninth place out of 123 competitors. One of the top five would go on to receive prizes.

“We had people voting for us all over Europe and the U.S.,” she said. “We just shared it with everybody, and we challenged our board members to vote every day and to get at least 10 people to vote.”

There were about 69,000 total votes, and of those votes, SHAF claimed approximately 6,000.

Meekus said for every $1,000 they raise, they’re able to help a wounded veteran.

“They take them on pheasant hunts, fishing or it could be skiing,” she said. “When they take them skiing, they could be a double amputee, so you have to hire special instructors to help them.”

The Southern Heritage Air Foundation has a WWII Museum that features the stories and memorabilia of over 80 local and regional heroes. The organization hosts field trips and living history opportunities and honors veterans through events and in other capacities.

The foundation has Warbird and Vintage Air Craft that fly, and they sell rides to help continue to keep the museum open. No one is paid through the Foundation and it is run solely by approximately 60 volunteers committed to preserving Aviation and WWII history and honoring the men and women who have served and those who are currently serving through donations and grants.