3/28/2014 – MCDONALD’S® THUNDER FUNDER KICKS OFF APRIL 1

       Preview Party at Bowman Field Set for April 3

March 28, 2014. Louisville, KY.   – This year’s McDonald’s Thunder Funder program, which will help raise funds for the 2014 Thunder Over Louisville Air and Fireworks show, kicks off on Tuesday, April 1. McDonald’s Restaurants of Kentuckiana is the title sponsor of the program for the ninth consecutive year.

From April 1 to April 29, 98 area McDonald’s restaurants will donate a portion of their large drink sales revenue to help support Thunder. The promotion coincides with McDonald’s $1.00 drink campaign, with large drinks served in a commemorative Thunder Over Louisville cup.

The 2014 McDonald’s Thunder Funder Preview Party also returns this year and will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 3, at Bowman Field. The event features a McDonald’s playground area, elements of the Thunder Air Show, planes on display, interactive photo booth with different Thunder backdrops, helicopter rides for $40 and much more.  Admission is free with a 2014 Pegasus Pin or 2014 McDonald’s Thunder Funder cup.

Thunder Over Louisville – the Derby Festival’s Opening Ceremonies – is one of nearly 70 events produced by the Kentucky Derby Festival in the spring. The 2014 Thunder Over Louisville, themed “Throwback Thunder,” is set for Saturday, April 12, and will be the 25th annual production. The show is sponsored by Horseshoe Southern Indiana, KentuckyOne Health, LG&E, Meijer, UPS and Valero.

Since 1956, the Derby Festival has worked to bring the community together in celebration. The Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single-attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.

April 20 - April 28
April 25 - May 3
April 25 - May 3
April 25 - April 27