airtwardo 7 #1 February 28, 2014 Jim Hayhurst posted this pic on his FB page ~ Mike's donation of $400,000 to the U.S. Team Trust Fund. God bless you Mike and thanks! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Boogers 0 #2 February 28, 2014 Wow! Mike, as I recall, was the one who started that fund. That's really putting your money where your mouth is! Mike, after seeing so many other national teams being sponsored by governments, and knowing that this wouldn't happen for the U.S., he started the fund to provide perpetual assistance to our own US team. It's not big enough yet to pay for 100% of expenses, but competitors today are a lot better off than they were before the fund. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuckakers 417 #3 February 28, 2014 airtwardoJim Hayhurst posted this pic on his FB page ~ Mike's donation of $400,000 to the U.S. Team Trust Fund. God bless you Mike and thanks! That's the finest act of skydiving philanthropy I've seen in years! Thanks, and blue skies, Mike!! We'll see you over there.Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmurt 0 #4 March 1, 2014 Saw that on FB earlier - what a legend. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Krip 2 #5 March 1, 2014 Hi Mr T Me bad I misread your post and left out the last two 00's. $400k is a lot of dough. Three CHEERS for Mr Truffer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #6 March 1, 2014 That is really amazing. I wonder if PiLFy still thinks Mike is trying to steal from him. SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PiLFy 0 #7 March 1, 2014 mjosparkyThat is really amazing. I wonder if PiLFy still thinks Mike is trying to steal from him. Sparky Huh? Spark, do you mean USPA's money grab last year regarding A-cards, that MANY members railed against? That was a separate issue, entirely. I read, & respect/appreciate what Truffer did w/the fund he envisioned. Haven't heard from you in quite a while, Sparky. You HAD appeared to lose the chip on your shoulder (?). If you feel the need to take a shot at me. Have at it, but use something I'm actually against. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #9 March 1, 2014 He said "money grab". LOL! Newb.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #10 March 1, 2014 grimmieLegend... Indeed...talk about a love for and a commitment to! 25+ years ago Bill Ottley use to be a frequent visitor staying with a skydiving roomie & I out in San Diego. I remember him telling me he'd set up something along those lines as well...and suggesting we do the same. At the time I wasn't really in a position to do so, but seeing Mike's thoughtful generosity and knowing more now in regard to how those funds are needed & used... I think I'm going to get with 'my guy' next week and discuss possibilities. This 'stupid hobby' has given a lot to many of us...what better legacy to leave than paying back a bit of what's owed, with a gesture which helps to advance the sport for many more generations to come. I always knew Mike Truffer was a very special kind of person and had both respect for him as an individual and high regard for his accomplishments... This 'final act' speaks volumes - I'm truly honored to have known him! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PiLFy 0 #11 March 1, 2014 diablopilotHe said "money grab". LOL! Newb. The term Money Grab was used at the time by someone on USPA's BOD. Someone w/20-30 years in the sport is a Newb? OK, by your standard, that makes you an Embryo... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #12 March 2, 2014 PiLFy***That is really amazing. I wonder if PiLFy still thinks Mike is trying to steal from him. Sparky Huh? Spark, do you mean USPA's money grab last year regarding A-cards, that MANY members railed against? That was a separate issue, entirely. I read, & respect/appreciate what Truffer did w/the fund he envisioned. Haven't heard from you in quite a while, Sparky. You HAD appeared to lose the chip on your shoulder (?). If you feel the need to take a shot at me. Have at it, but use something I'm actually against. You were the only one that accused Mike of stealing. You should go back to SC. SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,265 #13 March 2, 2014 Hi Boogers, QuoteWow! Mike, as I recall, was the one who started that fund. A little trivia for you. Many, many years ago Mike was going to Europe as some type of assistant to the US Parachute Team. While waiting in the airport for departure, he noticed some guys who were the US Competition Shooting Team ( or some name similar ) who were very well outfitted with gear bags, clothing, etc. He walked over and started talking to some of them to see how they were getting the money for all of the goodies. They told him that they had a donation-type fund setup and only used the income for their US Team travels. The light went on in Mike's head and today we have the US Parachute Team Fund. JerryBaumchen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PiLFy 0 #14 March 2, 2014 "You were the only one that accused Mike of stealing. You should go back to SC. Sparky" Show me. I've no memory of doing so. I recall being angered by USPA's decision to no longer allow completed A cards to be accepted as a license. USPA's BOD vote on that wasn't unanimous. One of the Nays had called it for what it was, a money grab. At the time, considerable anger was also directed at USPA's funding (& unfairly promoting) a demo team. Membership dollars & resources were being used to field a demo team that would directly compete for business from members who've earned that on their own. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
danornan 79 #15 March 2, 2014 Thanks to Mike, Sue and his family for completing this magnanimous act. What a way to be remembered and what class! Maybe the bickering can be taken to another thread and eliminated from here by the mods?Dano Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Boogers 0 #16 March 3, 2014 chuckakersThat's the finest act of skydiving philanthropy I've seen in years! What other donors have contributed more money than this? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuckakers 417 #17 March 3, 2014 Boogers ***That's the finest act of skydiving philanthropy I've seen in years! What other donors have contributed more money than this? I stand corrected. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Boogers 0 #18 March 4, 2014 chuckakers ******That's the finest act of skydiving philanthropy I've seen in years! What other donors have contributed more money than this? I stand corrected. I wasn't really criticizing your statement, I was just wondering if anyone else had done more. I don't really know, but can't think of any. Ottley had money, but I recall him donating things like custom trophies, and not this kind of cash. Anyone know of other huge donations like this? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuckakers 417 #19 March 4, 2014 Boogers *********That's the finest act of skydiving philanthropy I've seen in years! What other donors have contributed more money than this? I stand corrected. I wasn't really criticizing your statement, I was just wondering if anyone else had done more. I don't really know, but can't think of any. Ottley had money, but I recall him donating things like custom trophies, and not this kind of cash. Anyone know of other huge donations like this? No worries, Boog. Not that I know of, unless you want to consider the various money bags who have operated DZ's, for the sake of keeping them open. I've known several people over the years who fit that description. Of course that's different than an outright donation. Mike Truffer = awesome.Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpwally 0 #20 March 4, 2014 Wow,,outstanding,,i didn't realize he was that well off. Awesome for the US Team future...............smile, be nice, enjoy life FB # - 1083 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Boogers 0 #21 March 4, 2014 jumpwallyi didn't realize he was that well off. Did he make all that money off of "Skydiving" magazine, which he published for decades? If so, just think of it - all of our subscription money for all those years, went towards getting this $400k back for the sport. What a deal! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,265 #22 March 5, 2014 Hi Boogers, Quote Did he make all that money off of "Skydiving" magazine I think so. He was a military brat; his dad was a Colonel in the USAF as I recall. Mike got a degree in Anthropology or something similar from the UC-Davis. Then went to work for USPA. Left USPA & started the magazine. Entrepreneurship is alive and well in the USA. JerryBaumchen PS) The world awaits the next SKYDIVING magazine. Here's your chance. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #23 March 5, 2014 JerryBaumchen Hi Boogers, Quote Did he make all that money off of "Skydiving" magazine I think so. He was a military brat; his dad was a Colonel in the USAF as I recall. Mike got a degree in Anthropology or something similar from the UC-Davis. Then went to work for USPA. Left USPA & started the magazine. Entrepreneurship is alive and well in the USA. JerryBaumchen PS) The world awaits the next SKYDIVING magazine. Here's your chance. http://blueskiesmag.com/ SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
