The purpose of this campaign is to raise funds for the production and publication of an enhanced interactive e-graphic novel about the Tuskegee Redtails, which will be made available on all mobile platforms to make more people aware of the Tuskegee Airmen legacy.    

The Tuskegee Airmen were so called because most of the African American pilots were trained near Tuskegee University in Alabama during the 1940s.  Through their bravery and actions, commitment to their ideals and dedication to their dreams, the Tuskegee Airmen joined the ranks of other patriotic Americans who defended the United States of America against the Axis military powers during World War II.  

Leo Sullivan Multimedia Foundation, (tax exempt 501(c) 3), realized that this story should be told.  To help preserve the Tuskegee Airmen legacy, Leo Sullivan and Floyd Norman (two longtime friends) have designed an enhanced e-graphic novel to draw awareness to this great American story.  The story helps today’s youth gain self-esteem, knowing that they can overcome obstacles with passion for what they want to achieve, and through hard work.   

We must keep the story alive.  The Tuskegee Airmen were patriots that contributed to our freedoms today.  All youth should have knowledge of those that paved the way for the opportunities we enjoy today.    

The Tuskegee Redtails enhanced e-graphic novel is a pictorial essay of the Tuskegee Airmen.

It is an electronic Interactive graphic novel:

- Depicting the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen with stories of men and women who rose to the occasion to defend their country during World War II and also Features interactive touch screen components.

- Access to text, video, audio, graphics, illustrations and motion graphics.

- Promotes the science of aviation.

- Visuals that give the reader a rich experience and knowledge.

HOW CAN YOU HELP KEEP THE TUSKEGEE LEGACY ALIVE?

Your contribution will help make available the Tuskegee Airmen story on millions of mobile devices, into educational and library data bases, browsers, and in printed published form.  We have already finished phase one, which was the production of a browser aerial game, featured on our website www.tuskegeeredtails.com.

Help us place the interactive e-graphic novel on Apple platforms, Android, and other mobile platforms so that our youth and others can immerse themselves in a part of history.

Programmers/designers and other crafts people will be paid from this Indiegogo crowd fundraising campaign to develop and produce the e-graphic novel.  Funds will also be used to market and promote the novel to reach a broader audience.    

The Tuskegee Airmen, the few that are left, won’t be with us much longer so we embraced their story.  

Most recently, we became involved with the Tuskegee Airmen at the Compton Airport in Compton, CA where youth are being trained in aviation.  At the same location is a museum giving tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen and their story.  During our first visit, we watched world aviation records being broken by young urban youth flying airplanes and helicopters.  We thought this was awesome.  They were congratulated by the attending Tuskegee Airmen.  The significance of this historical event was the passing of the torch from the old to the young.  It was an emotional experience.

We thought that this was a fantastic story, so we decided, what better way to bring the story forward than through the new electronic media where more people would be made aware. 

George Lucas and his film, Red Tails, gave the Tuskegee Airmen recognition, but not the historical back story that makes the Tuskegee Airmen so unique, and that’s why we want you to help us bring the story to the forefront in this enhanced e-graphic novel.

The youth in the United States are lagging behind in the sciences and science is important for the growth of a nation.  The e-graphic novel offers a glimpse into the science of aviation, and hopefully, will encourage a youngster to pursue his or her dreams.

When we applied for our foundation status with the IRS, the category we chose was the area of media.  Media deals with one of the sciences, which the government is now stressing, that should be implemented in schools and organizations across the country to empower our youth to pursue the fields of science.  

Part of the mandate of our foundation is to teach graphics, media, animation, and game development which deals with the sciences, and after meeting with the Tuskegee Airmen organization, we embraced aviation.  So to fulfill our mandate, as outlined in our mission statement to the IRS, we realized that, ‘hey’, what a unique situation, our foundation can give service in both of these disciplines.  As you will see on our Facebook page, we have classes in animation and game development working with people from Dreamworks and various other studios in the Los Angeles area.

We thought what better way to combine all of those elements media, video, aviation science, and the Tuskegee Airmen story.  This is what we are doing with the e-graphic novel.  To empower youth, who are used to reading and playing games on mobile devices, the enhanced e-graphic novel would serve as a subtle way to introduce them to the Tuskegee Airmen story and the sciences.  If we get one kid who is inspired to go in the direction of the sciences, that would be fantastic.  

Your contribution will (1) help some of the youngsters out there who might chose a pathway to the many sciences that are available; and, (2) it will help us to establish the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen at the same time.  So please give and support this effort.  Think of it this way…indirectly, you’re giving scholarships to the future!

For those of you who reside in the United States of America, your contribution is tax deductible.  You will receive a receipt for tax purposes honoring your contribution.

20% of funds over the amount ($35,000.00) requested will go to support the following organizations:  L. A. Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship Fund, and Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum (a non-profit flight academy for future aviators).

The perks listed to the right are based on your contribution.  The biggest perk of all is knowing every time you see or hear anything about the Tuskegee Airmen, you’ll know you helped contribute to their legacy.