THUNDER INTO LOUISVILLE A ROARING SUCCESS
2003-11-19T09:42:24Bringing the community together since 1956.
THUNDER INTO LOUISVILLE A ROARING SUCCESS
WDRB-produced event helps raise money for 2004 Thunder Over Louisville
Nov. 18, 2003 – LOUISVILLE, KY – The first-ever Thunder into Louisville motorcycle rally on Nov. 8 attracted 519 entrants for the “Poker Run” to help raise money for the Kentucky Derby Festival’s Opening Ceremonies – Thunder Over Louisville. Produced by WDRB TV, Thunder into Louisville featured five stops for the riders, with cash prizes distributed at the finish party.
“Thanks to the creativity and hard work of WDRB TV and numerous volunteers, this event was a huge success,” said Mike Berry, President and CEO of the Kentucky Derby Festival. “What a great start for Thunder Over Louisville. It will be with corporate sponsors and additional fund-raising efforts like this that the Festival will be able to put on another tremendous show. The event gave the community an opportunity to support their show. They can still participate in the fund-raising effort for Thunder by purchasing a raffle ticket or becoming a Thunder Funder.”
The event raised an estimated $10,000 for the 2004 Thunder Over Louisville air show and fireworks extravaganza. Additional funds will be raised with the continuing sale of raffle tickets for a one-of-a-kind Harley Davidson Sportster with a customized “Maker’s Mark paint job.” Raffle tickets, which cost $10, are being sold at: the Kentucky Derby Festival office, 1001 South 3rd St; Louisville Harley Davidson, 1700 Arthur Street; and Fox 41 WDRB-TV, 624 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd. The drawing for the Harley Davidson Sportster will be held at the Waterfront Park Chow Wagon on April 30, 2004, and will be televised live on Fox News @ 10.
The inaugural motorcycle rally coincided with the kick-off of the Derby Festival’s grassroots Thunder Funder Program, which utilizes contributions from local companies and individuals to help raise money for Thunder Over Louisville, the largest single-day event in the region. The 2003 Thunder Over Louisville entertained more than 500,000 people and featured a tribute to the “Centennial of Flight” anniversary with a daylong air show and nighttime fireworks. The show was sponsored by Caesars Indiana, Ford Motor Company, UPS and Yum Brands!. The 2004 show is scheduled for Saturday, April 17, and will be the fifteenth annual production.
It’s about more than fireworks. It’s about bringing the community together in celebration. It’s about quality entertainment for the entire family. It’s about showcasing to the world what’s unique and wonderful about our city. It’s about fun. And it’s about inducing $31 million in economic activity on one single day.
Where else can citizens from all walks of life stand shoulder to shoulder and watch a free public show of this magnitude? It takes the funding of major corporate support and individuals to ensure that Thunder continues to roll. The Festival has created an avenue for you to become a part of that mission. Our collective efforts can once again make possible an event that has become an integral component of our community’s spirit. Derby Festival Opening Ceremonies, Thunder Over Louisville has touched this community in many ways.
Please help us continue this tradition in the style we all expect and become a part of Thunder Over Louisville’s future by becoming a “Thunder Funder”. For more information on the Derby Festival’s Thunder Funder Program, call the Festival Office at (502) 584-6383 for a brochure.
