MIDDLETOWN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION MAKES 10TH ANNUAL GRANT TO MIDUSA OHIO CHALLENGE HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL
By Ann Mort
Since the beginning of the Ohio Challenge in 2003, Middletown Community Foundation has shown confidence in the Hot Air Balloon Festival. Their $15,000 grant to the 2012 Challenge will help keep admission fees low so that the event is family-friendly and can continue to present Middletown in a positive light in the SW Ohio region.
The Foundation is one of seven sponsors who have been with the event for the full 10 years. (Primary Sponsor MidFirst/MidUSA Credit Union, along with Middletown Convention and Visitors Bureau, Dillman Foods, Chamber of Commerce serving Middletown, Monroe and Trenton, Middletown Journal and City of Middletown Public Works Department have also supported the effort for 10 years.)
“Through our grants in support of education, health, the arts and recreation, the Middletown Community Foundation works to make Middletown and the surrounding communities wonderful places to live, work and play,” said Middletown Community Foundation Executive Director T. Duane Gordon. “We are proud that our longstanding support of this festival has provided hours of high-quality, low-cost entertainment for families in our community.”
Maria Langendorf, chairperson of the Challenge said, “We appreciate the generosity of the Foundation in making the balloon event the premier happening in the area each summer. They have helped us set and maintain the high standards of our festival.”
“We find that our sponsors’ connection to this event works in their favor as well as ours. Many sponsors include balloons in their own advertising, use their free passes to bring staff or customers to the event and put signage in and on their buildings connecting them to a positive experience.”
The MidUSA Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival will be at Smith Park, in downtown Middletown on Friday and Saturday evenings, July 13 & 14 - 4-10:30 pm; and Saturday and Sunday mornings July 14 & 15 – 7-11 am. Parking will be available with shuttle service via the airport entrance at 1800 Germantown Road, Middletown. For full information visit the www.midusaohiochallenge.com website or call 513-705-1770.
2012 Sponsors
Primary Sponsor:
MidUSA Credit Union
Platinum+:
Middletown Community Foundation
Platinum:
Chamber of Commerce serving Middletown, Monroe, Trenton
City of Middletown
Selection.com
In Memory of Janet & Perry Thatcher
Gold:
Digital Visuals
Middletown Journal / Cox Ohio
Wendy's
Silver:
Alliance Printing Company
Atrium Medical Center
Dillman's Foods
GFS - Gordon Food Services
Huhtamaki, Inc
Kleingers & Associates
LeafFilter Gutter Protection
Otterbein Retirement Living
SmarTravel LLC
Bronze:
AK Steel
Miller Coors
OmniCom Solutions Group
Rittenhouse Senior Living of Middletown
Rumpke
Summit Family Physicians
United Way of Greater Cincinnati - Middletown Area
Corporate Balloons:
Bella Balloons
Gentle Breeze
Re/Max
