THUNDER 2000 IS ON
2000-01-21T15:35:29BUSINESS COMMUNITY KEEPS FIREWORKS SHOW ALIVE
January 21, 2000. Louisville, KY. After 11 weeks of uncertainty about the future of Thunder Over Louisville, the Kentucky Derby Festival announced January 21 at a 3 PM press conference that Blue Chip Broadcasting, Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., Caesar’s Indiana, Ford Motor Co. and United Parcel Service have teamed together to sponsor the festival’s opening ceremonies and the largest annual fireworks show in North America. In addition, a team of companies and individuals forming an ongoing Thunder Funder program will ensure the event’s longevity.
For nearly three months after Kroger Co.’s announcement that it would no longer sponsor Thunder Over Louisville, the Festival’s staff has worked tirelessly to secure financial backing for the community’s largest annual event. “For 10 years, Kroger helped stage the biggest show in town,” said Festival President Mike Berry. “They built a wonderful legacy that has now been passed to five hometown heroes.”
Festival Chairman William Summers IV echoed Berry’s sentiments. “We salute today the five corporations and team of smaller businesses that have ensured the future of such an important community asset. This broad-based support for Thunder truly demonstrates that the Derby Festival touches every segment of this community.”
Thunder Over Louisville is scheduled for Saturday, April 15. In addition to the eagerly anticipated pyrotechnic spectacular, a “Millennium Thunder” will include an air show prior to the fireworks at 9:30 PM.
Thunder, which annually attracts more than 500,000 people to both sides of the Ohio River, provides an economic impact of $14 million to the community. The festival’s signature event kicks of a three-week civic celebration which includes more than 70 other special events including the miniMarathon, Great Balloon Race and Pegasus Parade.
The Kentucky Derby Festival is a private, not-for-profit organization that must raise all of it funds privately.
