2010 MCDONALD'S THUNDER FUNDER KICKS OFF

2010-04-05

The 2010 McDonald’s Thunder Funder program, which will help raise funds for the 2010 Thunder Over Louisville Air and Fireworks show, kicks off TOMORROW.  McDonald’s Restaurants of Kentuckiana is the title sponsor of the program for the fifth consecutive year.  Ninety-six area McDonald’s restaurants will donate a portion of their 32-ounce soft drink sales revenue to help support Thunder. The promotion coincides with their $1.00 drink campaign and will run from April 6 through May 2.  The 32-ounce drinks come in a commemorative Thunder cup.

In addition, the Thunder Preview Party – which is part of the McDonald’s Thunder Funder initiative – will be held Thursday, April 8, at the Central American Airways Flying Service hangar at Bowman Field. The event features a special preview of Thunder Day activities and will help the public “gear up” for the 2010 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 2010 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 will be available; admission is a 2010 Pegasus Pin or McDonald’s Thunder Funder Cup (available at area McDonald’s Restaurants).

“We’re extremely thankful that McDonald’s Restaurants of Kentuckiana has returned as sponsor of the Thunder Funder Program for an unprecedented fifth 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 2006, the McDonald’s Thunder Program raised $92,520 through in-store sales; in 2007, the program raised $71,856; $90,000 was raised in 2008 and $106,520 in 2009. 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 2010 Thunder Over Louisville, themed “Thunder Fever: May Increase Heart Rate,” is set for Saturday, April 17. The show is sponsored by E.ON U.S., Horseshoe Casino and Hotel, Meijer and UPS. 

The Derby Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, more than 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. It entertains more than 1.5 million people in a two-week period.