2009 THUNDER PREVIEW PARTY TO BE HELD AT BOWMAN FIELD
2009-03-30The 2009 Thunder Preview Party - which is part of the McDonald's Thunder Funder initiative - will be held Thursday, April 2, at the Central American Airways Flying Service hangar at Bowman Field. This is the third year for the event, which will be a special preview of Thunder Day activities and will help the public "gear up" for the 2009 Derby Festival.
The hangar will be open to the public from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will feature a static display of aircraft, a McDonald's Playland Kidzone with activities, inflatable slides and bounces, as well as the sale of 2009 Official Kentucky Derby Festival merchandise. Military and civilians pilots will be on hand to meet the public, along with a Thunder Over Louisville crew, including producer Wayne Hettinger. Food concessions and a cash bar will be available; admission is a 2009 Pegasus Pin or McDonald's Thunder Funder Cup (available at area McDonald's Restaurants).
The 2009 McDonald's Thunder Funder campaign kicked off on Feb. 17 with the participation of 96 area McDonald's restaurants. The restaurants will donate a portion of their 32-ounce drink sales through April 19 to help support Thunder.
"We're extremely thankful that McDonald's Restaurants of Kentuckiana has returned as sponsor of the Thunder Funder Program for an unprecedented fourth year in a row," said Mike Berry, Kentucky Derby Festival President and CEO. "The support provided by the area McDonald's restaurants is absolutely vital to funding Thunder Over Louisville. We're very grateful for this promotion that is helping the Derby Festival finance its largest and most anticipated event."
In 2008, the McDonald's Thunder Funder Program raised $90,000 through in-store sales. In 2007, the program raised $71,856; in 2006 the program raised $92,520 to support Thunder Over Louisville. More information is available online at www.mcdonaldsthunderfunder.org.
Thunder Over Louisville - the Derby Festival's Opening Ceremonies - is one of the more than 70 events produced by the Derby Festival in the spring. The 2009 Thunder Over Louisville, themed "Thunder Road," is set for Saturday, April 18. The show is sponsored by E.ON U.S., Horseshoe Casino and Hotel, Meijer and UPS.
