MCDONALD'S TO SPONSOR THUNDER FUNDER PROGRAM

The Kentucky Derby Festival is pleased to announce that McDonald's Restaurants of Kentuckiana will once again be title sponsor of the Thunder Funder Program, which will help raise funds for the 2010 Thunder Over Louisville Air and Fireworks show, the Derby Festival's Opening Ceremonies on April 17. 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.

"We're extremely grateful 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 vitally important to funding Thunder Over Louisville. When this promotion began five years ago, we had no idea the McDonald's Funder Program would play such an important role in 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.

The 2010 McDonald's Thunder Preview Party will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. on April 8 at Bowman Field. The event, which gives attendees at sneak peek at the Thunder show, will feature static plane displays, a McDonald's playground area and a pilot "meet and greet." Admission is a 2010 Pegasus Pin or 2010 McDonald's Thunder Funder cup.

"McDonald's Restaurants of Kentuckiana are excited to continue our support of Derby Festival and help bring the thrill of Thunder to the community again this year," said Ira Salls, a McDonald's Owner/Operator. "McDonald's will give a portion of the proceeds for each 32 ounce drink purchased to help fund Thunder Over Louisville. McDonald's has a strong commitment to the Louisville community, and Thunder Funder is a program we are proud to participate in."

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 show is set for Saturday, April 17, and will be the 21st  annual production.