About Us

Raise the Sky is a non-profit organization for skydivers who want to use the power of our sport to make the world a better place.

Our Mission:

Use the promotional power of skydiving to facilitate charitable giving, positive change, and community involvement.

Inspire skydivers to engage in “fearless outreach”.

Our Vision:

Every skydiving event partnered with a cause. Every skydiver an ambassador to the world.

Our Manifesto:

There is something about this sport. We forge inconceivable bonds across social and economic lines. We risk our lives for the view from altitude, for the way we feel when we walk back into work on Monday morning after grinning at our friends in mid-air as the weekend sun goes down.

Why do you jump? The rush? Extraordinary friendships? A sense of possibility? It changed your life, your point of view, your brain chemistry? Want to share that with the world?

Take your skydiving to the next level. Give a little slice of your adrenaline-fueled joy to change someone’s life. Educate a child. Build a school. Cure cancer. Make your next event a fundraiser for a worthy cause. Spend a day volunteering near your dropzone. Organize a tandem jump for someone who dreams of flying but could never otherwise afford it.

We believe in caring for the most vulnerable, globally, because we want to make every second count. For every lifelong friendship forged in a freefall moment, we want to reach out to a new friend who needs us.

Raise the Sky, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation registered in the state of Massachusetts. We connect members of the worldwide sport skydiving community to humanitarian and charitable causes by:

1. Helping skydivers to plan and execute events with a charitable element;

2. Planning and promoting record attempts linked to fundraising for our charitable partners; and

3. Organizing events and travel that combine skydiving opportunities with community service and awareness activities.

Board of Directors

Taya Weiss
taya(at)raisethesky.org

Taya Weiss is a writer and policy analyst. She has served as a research consultant for the Institute for Security Studies in South Africa and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, among others. Taya has 1,500 skydives, a USPA D-license and Coach rating, and PASA Jumpmaster and Coach ratings. A wingsuit organizer and multiple record holder, she serves as an advisor to the International Parachuting Commission Wingsuit Working Group, and also enjoys freeflying. Taya has a BA magna cum laude in Social Studies from Harvard University and a Master in International Relations from Princeton University.

Eli Bolotin
eli(at)raisethesky.org

Eli Bolotin is a full-time skydiver and entrepreneur. An AFF instructor and wind tunnel coach, he has 900 jumps and a USPA D-license. He enjoys freeflying, canopy relative work, and video flying, and is an experienced organizer and media liaison. Eli has served as a Volunteer Coordinator for the American Red Cross Disaster Action Team of Massachusetts Bay, was a member of the Logan Airport “Tarmac Team” in the event of an airplane crash, and was media liaison for major disasters. He holds a BA in Environmental Science and Public Policy from Harvard University.

Jeff Donohue
jeff.donohue(at)raisethesky.org

Jeff Donohue serves as Corporate Counsel for Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBRI), supporting NIBRI’s Strategic Alliance function on drug research and development collaborations, academic consortia, licensing agreements, and strategic acquisitions. He has 500 skydives and a USPA C-license, and enjoys wingsuiting. Jeff is interested in supporting the fight against diseases prevalent in developing countries (tuberculosis and malaria), and prevalent in children (cystic fibrosis and leukemia). He holds a BA from Brandeis University and a JD from Boston University School of Law.

Phil Peggs
phil(at)raisethesky.org

Phil Peggs is a broadcast engineer in mobile television production for NBC. He travels extensively within the US to work on programs such as Sunday Night Football, the Superbowl, the Emmy Awards, and the Grammies. An avid videographer, he has 2,000 jumps and a USPA D-license. He was the Media Coordinator and a participant at the US National Wingsuit Record, and is an experienced wingsuit coach and organizer for all skill levels. He also enjoys 4-way and 8-way Formation Skydiving. Phil holds a BA from Ball State University in Indiana.

Steve Sanderson
steve(at)raisethesky.org

Steve Sanderson is the Founder and Owner of Helios Interactive Technologies, a company specializing in integration and deployment of interactive technology for advertising and events. Steve has five years’ experience in the skydiving industry and has been an active jumper for 11 years. He has 4,700 jumps, a USPA D-license, and is a Tandem and Accelerated Freefall Instructor. He particularly enjoys jumping as a skysurfing videographer. Steve’s charitable focus is on international organizations and global outreach.