• Author:
  KDF Press Office


• Date Published:
  11/18/2009

The Kentucky Derby Festival is pleased to unveil a new commemorative holiday ornament created by the Christopher Radko Company, the acclaimed designers of ornaments for every holiday and special occasion on the calendar. The ornament, named "A Good Foundation," is a bell-shaped snowman featuring a hand-painted winter scene in colors of blue and white.

Each ornament was mouth-blown in tempered glass and individually painted in the Christopher Radko Company's European workshop. Radko's artisans use a time-honored technique more than a century old that requires seven days to make a single ornament. The "Good Foundation" ornaments cost $65, with $10 from each sale donated to the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation, the Derby Festival's charitable arm. The KDF Foundation annually benefits a wide variety of causes throughout the year, including oversight of the 14 charitable organizations that utilized the 2009 Derby Festival Marathon/miniMarathon to raise more than $120,000 for their respective groups.

"We're very pleased to offer another unique Radko ornament that can be displayed for years to come, as well as helping the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation assist the less fortunate in our community," said Mike Berry, President and CEO of the Kentucky Derby Festival. "The Limited Edition Christopher Radko boxed set sells for $125 and includes the "A Good Foundation," "Eight Belles" and "Bell of Louisville" ornaments. Sold individually, these three ornaments would cost $175, so it's a tremendous bargain and a great way to donate for a very worthy cause."

This is the sixth edition in the Derby Festival's Radko ornament series: "Golden Pegasus" was created for the Festival's 50th Celebration in 2004, followed in 2005 by "Festival Flight," "Destination Derby" in 2006, "Bell of Louisville" in 2007 and "Eight Belles" in 2008. Some of the previous year's ornaments are still available in limited quantities. Ornaments are available at the Derby Festival office at 1001 S. Third St. (502 584-3378) or on the Festival's website at www.kdf.org.

For more than 20 years, the Christopher Radko Company has created more than 10,000 designs in glass and Home for the Holidays products. Their hand-made, brilliantly colored and glittered ornaments and holiday decorations adorn millions of homes, from celebrities and historic residences to the house next door. Radko ornaments can also be found in the collections of Elton John, Oprah Winfrey, Robert Redford, Kim Basinger, John Travolta, Elizabeth Taylor, Whoopi Goldberg and Gov. and Mrs. Arnold Schwarzenegger.