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• Location:
  Central American Airways Flying Service hangar at Bowman field


• Event Date:
  04/08/2010


• Time:
  5 PM - 9 PM


• Admission:
  McDonald's Thunder Funder Cup


• Sponsored By:
  McDonald's Restaurants of Kentuckiana


• Links:
  McDonald's Thunder Funder Official Website
  Thunder Over Louisville Official Website
  

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 2009 Thunder Over Louisville show, the Derby Festival's Opening Ceremonies on April 18.  96 area McDonald's restaurants will donate a portion of their 32-ounce drink sales revenue to help support Thunder.  The promotion coincides with their $1.00 drink campaign and will run from Feb. 17 to April 19.  The 32 oz drinks come in a commemorative Thunder cup.

"We're extremely thankful that McDonald's Restaurants of Kentuckiana has returned as sponsor of the Thunder Funder Program for an unprecedented fourth year in a row," said Mike Berry, Kentucky Derby Festival President and CEO. "The support provided by the area McDonald's restaurants is absolutely vital to funding Thunder Over Louisville. When this promotion began four 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 and $90,000 in 2008. The 2009 McDonald's Thunder Preview Party will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. on April 2 at Bowman Field. The event, which gives attendees at sneak peek at the Thunder show, will feature static aircraft displays, a family interactive area and a pilot "meet and greet." Admission is a 2009 Pegasus Pin or 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 oz. 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 2009 Thunder Over Louisville show is set for Saturday, April 18, and will be the 20th annual production.