West Chester Helicopter Museum Gets STEM Programs Grant

WEST CHESTER, PA — Programs at West Chester's American Helicopter Museum like STEM workshops and Girls in Science and Technology got a boost recently in the form of a grant.

The American Helicopter Museum and Education Center (AHMEC) in West Chester has been awarded $2,500 by the PhRMA Foundation. The STEM Talent Pipeline Grant funding will go toward AHMEC’s goal of providing the community with quality Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs.

AHMEC's Executive Director Paul Kahan said the museum is "extremely pleased and excited" to receive the grant. "Being able to present programming like Girls in Science and Technology (GIST), STEAM Storytime, STEM Workshops, and Science Saturdays is an important aspect of the Museum’s mission to preserve rotary-wing aviation history, educate society on helicopters and their missions and inspire future generations.”

The formal announcement of PhRMA Foundation's grant happens at 11 a.m. on Oct. 21 at the Museum. State Rep. Dianne Herrin (D-156th) will present AHMEC with the donation.

The Museum is open Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. All visitors must abide by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's mask-wearing requirement and respect social distancing, the Museum's news statement said. Hand sanitizer is available. Contact the Museum at 610-436-9600.

The American Helicopter Museum and Education Center, 1220 American Boulevard, West Chester, is the nation’s premier aviation museum devoted exclusively to helicopters.

Established in 1996, the nonprofit organization collects, restores, and displays rotary-wing aircraft, including over 35 civilian and military helicopters, autogiros, and convertiplanes.

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