KDF UNVEILS NEW HOLIDAY ORNAMENT
2011-11-11The Kentucky Derby Festival is pleased to unveil a new commemorative holiday ornament created for the Festival's 2012 season. The Christopher Radko ornament - titled "Fleur-de-Liberty" - features a red, white and blue color scheme on a silver fleur-de-lis design. A yellow ribbon adorns the ornament, with "Louisville, Kentucky" and "2012 Derby Festival" painted on the side. The ornaments were produced in Eastern Europe by a seasoned team of artists and craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company since it was founded. Each design is crafted by hand, using centuries-old carving, molding, glass-blowing, silver lining, hand-painting and finishing processes that require significant time and skill to complete.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of "Fleur-de-Liberty" ornaments will be donated to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation for Medal of Honor recipient Sgt Dakota Meyer's $1 Million Challenge to raise $1 million by the Foundation's 50th anniversary on May 28, 2012. Meyer has also been named 2012 Thundernator for the Kentucky Derby Festival's Opening Ceremonies: Thunder Over Louisville. The Foundation is the nation's oldest and largest need-based scholarship organization supporting U.S. military families.
This is the eighth edition in the Derby Festival's Radko ornament series: "Golden Pegasus" was created for the Festival's 50th Celebration in 2005, followed in 2006 by "Festival Flight," "Destination Derby" in 2007, "Bell of Louisville" in 2008, "Eight Belles" in 2009, "A Good Foundation" in 2010 and "Hometown Holiday" in 2011.
The Christopher Radko Company has been designing and producing fine European glass ornaments for more than 23 years. Christopher Radko has created over 10,000 designs in glass and Home for the Holidays products. His hand-made, brilliantly colored and glittered ornaments and holiday decorations adorn millions of homes, from celebrities and historic residences to the house next door. Their radiance and originality makes them more a work of art than an ordinary holiday decoration. His ornaments are in the collections of Elton John, Oprah Winfrey, Robert Redford, Kim Basinger, John Travolta, Elizabeth Taylor.
"Fleur-de-Liberty" will be available at the Kentucky Derby Festival Office at 1001 South Third Street (502-584-6383), or on the Festival's website at www.kdf.org. Each ornament retails at $60.00.
