2011 MCDONALD'S THUNDER FUNDER CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY

2011-03-23

The 2011 McDonald's Thunder Funder program, which helps raise funds for the 2011 Thunder Over Louisville Air and Fireworks show, is underway. McDonald's Restaurants of Kentuckiana is the title sponsor of the program for the sixth consecutive year. Ninety-seven area McDonald's restaurants will donate a portion of their 32-ounce soft drink and ice tea sales revenue to help support Thunder. The promotion coincides with their $1.00 drink campaign and runs through April 18.  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 7, 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 2011 Derby Festival.

The hangar will be open to the public from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will feature planes on display, a children's interactive area, helicopter rides and a display of the large American flag that will be showcased during the Thunder Air Show, as well as the sale of 2011 Official Kentucky Derby Festival merchandise. Military and civilians pilots will be on hand to meet the public, along with the Thunder Over Louisville crew, including producer Wayne Hettinger. Food concessions will be available; admission is free with a 2011 Pegasus Pin or McDonaldÂ’s Thunder Funder Cup (available at area McDonald's Restaurants).

"We are extremely grateful that McDonald's Restaurants of Kentuckiana has returned as sponsor of the Thunder Funder Program for an unprecedented sixth year in a row," said Mike Berry, President and CEO of the Derby Festival. "The support provided by the area McDonald's Restaurants is extremely important to funding Thunder Over Louisville.  We encourage Thunder fans to patronize McDonald's Restaurants as their way of helping fund Thunder. Over the past five years, the McDonald's Thunder Funder program helped to raise close to raise nearly half a million dollars for Thunder Over Louisville."

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 2011 Thunder Over Louisville, themed "Thunder Power," is set for Saturday, April 16, and will be the 22nd annual production. The show is sponsored by Horseshoe Southern Indiana, LG&E, Meijer and UPS.