MCDONALD'S TO SPONSOR DERBY FESTIVAL'S 2006 THUNDER FUNDER PROGRAM
2006-02-28T10:01:49The Kentucky Derby Festival is pleased to announce that McDonald’s Restaurants of Kentuckiana is the new title sponsor of the 2006 Thunder Funder program. The program, now titled McDonald’s Thunder Funder, will help raise funds for Thunder Over Louisville – the Derby Festival’s Opening Ceremonies on April 22. Beginning today, participating McDonald’s will donate 10 cents from the sale of every 32-ounce drink in a commemorative cup to help support Thunder. Drinks may be purchased separately or as part of a Thunder Funder Meal (filet o’fish, French fries and large drink).
“We’re very excited that this year’s Thunder Funder program will be sponsored by McDonald’s Restaurants of Kentuckiana,” said Mike Berry, Kentucky Derby Festival President and CEO. “McDonald’s has stepped forward to give the public a great opportunity to support Thunder and ensure that the show will remain free for everyone.”
The inaugural Thunder Funder campaign last year was a great success, with individuals and businesses contributing more than $70,000 to help support the 2005 show. This year’s McDonald’s Thunder Funder is set for March 21 from 5 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. at the Galt House Conservatory. All local TV broadcast stations will air coverage of the McDonald’s Thunder Funder event.
Said McDonald’s spokesman Dave Gatti: “McDonald’s Restaurants are overjoyed at the opportunity to work alongside the Kentucky Derby Festival to provide Thunder fanatics throughout Kentuckiana with the chance to be a part of the big show. Ninety-one McDonald’s restaurants in 19 Kentucky counties and six in Southern Indiana are participating in the promotion, which will run from now until April 22.”
The McDonald’s Thunder Funder program will offer special incentives for patrons, including a commemorative pin set (available only on Thunder Funder Day) and shell certificates for the fireworks show. Thunder Funder supporters at the “Five-Star Viewing” level ($150 per person) will be able to watch the day’s activities on the Ohio River aboard a floating platform tethered to a World War Two landing ship – the LST-325. Five-Star supporters will have day-long access to tour the LST and will be provided with a private, catered venue with breathtaking views of the show.
Thunder Over Louisville - the Derby Festival's Opening Ceremonies - is one of the more than 70 events produced by the Derby Festival each spring. The Derby Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 325 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. It entertains more than 1.5 million people in a two-week period and has a local economic impact of more than $93 million. Thunder alone contributes $31 million of that estimate to both sides of the Ohio River.
