LINK FOUNDATION INFORMATION

The Link Foundation is a New York Charitable Trust, qualifying under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It was established in 1953 by Mr. and Mrs. Edwin A. Link. Grants totaling over $4,600,000 have been awarded to universities, colleges, and other nonprofit organizaions.

Mr. Link was best known for his invention of the first sucessful flight simulator, in 1929. Prior to his death, in1981, he had acquired over 27 patents for aeronautics, navigation, and oceanography ecquipment. Simulators today still carry the name 'Link' and are used widely for aircraft, spacecraft, ship, surface vehicle, and medical training.

As Mr. Link had devoted a major portion of his life to the furthering of aeronautics, the Link Foundation awarded many of its early grants to advance training and education in aeronautics. Aviation Medicine Fellowships, Flight Safety Seminars, and the development of Aviation Publications for teachers were among early projects supported.

In 1963, the first Link Foundation grant for an Ocean Engineering Fellowship was awarded to the University of Rhode Island. In an effort to encourage the number of trained professional oceanographic technicians, other oceanographic research grants were awarded in the 1960's. Through its support to Florida Atlantic University for the first undergraduate ocean engineering program in 1965, the Link Foundation was recognised as one of the University founders.

In 1973, the Link Foundation established the Albert D. Stover/E. Clayton Link Fund. Income from this fund is used for young pioneers interested in the further development of the oceans. A similar fund is used to support scholarships, internships, and post-graduate research at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution.

A major program of fellowships in the area of energy research and conservation was established in 1983. The field of energy and its optimum usage has been Mr. Link's last scientific thought and interest. Later, in 1989, a graduate Fellowship in Simulation Research was awarded to the University of Michigan. Subsequently in 1990, an annual program in advanced simulation training was established.

Policy and Program

It is the policy of the Trustees of the Foundation to consider primarily requests for grants related to the mastery of air and sea, and to the development of conservation of energy resources. Over the years of its existence, the Link Foundation has supported programs in these fields by providing funds for Postdoctoral Fellowships, Undergraduate Scholarships, Graduate Fellowships, Special Purpose Publications, Lectures, Seminars, and Research Projects. Today, the Foundation awards annual fellowships in the fields of energy, simulation, and ocean engineering. In addition, the Foundation supports oceanographic research projects supervised by the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, and the Roberson Museum and Science Center.