Event Details
The Arkansas Flight Safety Cooperative, in coordination with the City of Russellville, is excited to host the River Valley Rally, a charity flight event to benefit Joseph's House of Russellville and River Valley Food 4 Kids.
Event Schedule:
- 8:00 AM: Pancake Breakfast with the Pilots hosted by AFSC (donations appreciated)
- 8:30 AM: Pilot Safety Briefing
- 9:30 AM: Pumpkin Drop
- 10:00 AM: Candy Drop
- 10:30 AM: Winners Announced
- 11:00 AM: Flights Start
- 1:00 PM: Last Flight
New this year: flights are awarded by a raffle instead of selling flight tickets. Buy raffle tickets at check-in, place them in the bucket for the aircraft you want, and we’ll draw winners mid-morning. Multiple drawings will be held for each aircraft based on available flights.
Raffle Tickets $10 each
Safety is our top priority. All flights are conducted by experienced volunteer pilots and meet strict safety standards. Volunteers will provide safety briefings and assist passengers.
Enjoy breakfast, light concessions, aircraft pumkin drop, helicopter candy drop, and static aircraft displays. 100% of raffle proceeds support our designated charities.
Come support a great cause and experience the thrill of flight at the River Valley Rally! We look forward to seeing you there. Download the event flyer here!
How It Works: Flight Raffle
1) Buy Raffle Tickets ($10 each)
- Purchase raffle tickets at the check-in table when you arrive.
- You can buy as many tickets as you like.
2) Pick Your Aircraft
- Each aircraft has a raffle bucket labeled with how many passengers (excluding the pilot) it can carry.
- Examples:
- 2-seat airplane → bucket label: “1 Passenger”
- 4-seat airplane → bucket label: “3 Passengers”
- 5-seat airplane → bucket label: “4 Passengers”
- Drop your ticket(s) into the bucket(s) for the aircraft you want. You may spread tickets across multiple buckets or put them all in one.
3) Mid-Morning Drawings
- We will conduct multiple drawings for each aircraft based on the number of flights available for that plane.
- All winners are announced together mid-morning (exact time announced on site).
4) If You Win
- The winner chooses the passengers who fly with them, up to the number of passenger seats available for that aircraft.
- Examples:
- If you win a 4-seat airplane (3 passenger seats), you may bring up to 3 passengers of your choice.
- If you win a 2-seat airplane (1 passenger seat), only one person can go (you or someone you choose), because the pilot occupies the other seat.
- Flights will be scheduled throughout the day until capacity is reached.
Tips for Families & Groups
- Match your tickets to seating needs. A family of three should place tickets in a “3 Passengers” bucket (4-seat aircraft) to fly together.
- Or place tickets in smaller-seat buckets (e.g., “1 Passenger” or “2 Passengers”) and hope to be drawn more than once.
- Remember: each ticket only counts in the bucket it’s placed in.
- Buy raffle tickets at check-in.
- Choose your plane by bucket label (number of passengers).
- Put your ticket(s) in the bucket(s) you want.
- We draw multiple winners per aircraft mid-morning.
- Winners pick who flies with them, up to the aircraft’s passenger limit.
Example Scenario
A family of 4 buys 4 tickets and places:
• 1 ticket in a “1 Passenger” bucket (2-seat airplane),
• 1 in a “3 Passengers” bucket (4-seat airplane),
• 1 in a “4 Passengers” bucket (5-seat airplane).
If the “1 Passenger” ticket is drawn, only one family member can fly (pilot occupies the other seat). To fly together, they should put tickets in a “4 Passengers” bucket.
Where Your Money Goes
All raffle proceeds go directly to Joseph’s House and River Valley Food 4 Kids. Flights are provided by volunteer pilots donating their time and aircraft.
Joseph's House
Joseph’s House of Russellville rallies and partners with our community to provide programs that help overcome the obstacles of foster children, and being a foster child, in the River Valley Area of Arkansas. We walk alongside our families to help them more easily meet the needs of our children. With YOUR support, we can continue to build a strong foster family community so all our children can stay close to where they call home. Through continued planning and expansion, we will be able to serve the families of our foster children, making permanent impact and changing generational outcomes for the stronger and more stable family unit.
River Valley Food 4 Kids
River Valley Food 4 Kids was established in 2014 in Pope County Arkansas out of a desire to better serve children in our area. In Pope County, more than 1 in 4 children are dealing with poverty and food insecurity. During the school year, children have access to free breakfast & lunch along with backpacks filled with food for weekends. Once school lets out all of those resources end. While most children are enjoying a break from school and time with friends and family, these kids are wondering where their next meal will come from. To combat this problem, several Russellville churches and organizations partnered with River Valley Food 4 Kids to provide food for the summer.
In 2015 the program expanded to provide for the backpack program at Russellville, Atkins, Pottsville, and Dover schools. In 2020, we expanded our program again to include the Hector School District.
We now serve over 1,000 children each year through our Backpack Program.
Through the generosity of our community, we provided over 540,000 meals to the children of the River Valley in 2023. To date, RVF4K has served over 2.7 MILLION meals to children.
No single church or organization has the resources to meet the needs of these children alone. We need each other and we need you. Would you be willing to sponsor a child in our community? With only $12 per month, you will feed a child for THE ENTIRE YEAR. However, ANY amount will help ensure that a hungry child receives something to eat every time school is out of session.
Please contact us if you would like more information about volunteering or sponsoring a child. You can message us on Facebook or email us at rivervalleyfood4kids@gmail.com.
Pilot Volunteer Information
Join us as a pilot at the River Valley Rally and play a crucial role in our charity event! We are seeking enthusiastic pilots who are ready to share their love for aviation while contributing to a noble cause. Your expertise and generosity in volunteering your time and aircraft can make a significant difference in our community.
To participate as a pilot in the River Valley Rally, please meet the following qualifications:
- Valid Pilot Certificate - Private Pilot or higher
- Current Medical Certificate
- Flight Review completed within the last 24 months (14 CFR 61.56)
- At least 3 takeoffs and landings within the preceding 90 days (14 CFR 61.57)
- Minimum of 500 total flight hours
This event is not just an opportunity to fly; it's a chance to directly impact the lives of many in the River Valley area. As part of the River Valley Rally, you’ll provide passengers with a unique perspective of our beautiful region, all while helping to raise funds for vital local causes.
What We Provide
- Coordination of all flight planning and safety checks
- A comprehensive safety briefing on the day of the event
- Support in fuel cost management through sponsorships, ensuring that there are no out-of-pocket expenses for fuel
- An opportunity to meet and network with other aviators who share your passion and commitment to community service
We Need Your Help:
We rely on the skilled hands of volunteer pilots like you to make this event successful. By offering your time and skills, you help ensure that every ticket sold turns into a substantial contribution for our beneficiaries. Moreover, your participation helps inspire others in the community, fostering a love for aviation and highlighting the critical role pilots play in charitable activities.
Please consider joining us for this exceptional event. To sign up as a volunteer pilot, download the pilot sign-up sheet provided, fill it out, and return it to us. Your involvement is not just about flying—it's about making a difference.
Download Pilot Sign-Up Sheet