August 8-10, 2014

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2014 U.S. Bank Midwest Balloon Fest ANNOUNCES $10,000 CHARITY BALLOON RACE

KANSAS CITY, MO - February 1, 2014 Organizers of the U.S. Bank Great Midwest Balloon Festival, scheduled for August 9-10 in Olathe, are offering local charities the opportunity to take to the sky in pursuit of a $10,000 prize.

The first ever Fox and Hound Charity Balloon Racewill take place on Friday, August 9th at 6:30 pm. when a balloon deemed the "hare" will lift off at the festival. Serving as the "hounds," a maximum of 30 professionally piloted balloons, each representing a local charity, will then follow, in pursuit of the hare. While aloft, the "hare" balloon will drop a large target onto the competition field. The "hound" balloons will then take turns dropping a marker from the air onto the target below. The balloon with the marker that lands closest to the target will win the grand prize of $10,000 for their charity. Balloons placing 2nd and 3rd will win $3500 and $1500 respectively for their charities. A random drawing to determine pairings of charities and balloonists will take place prior to the race.

Interested, non-profit, 501 (c) (3), organizations must complete an application and agree to sell a minimum of 100 advance adult tickets to the festival ($10 each) or secure a sponsor or underwriter. Those wishing to raise additional funds will earn $5 for every ticket sold beyond the required 100. There is no limit to the number of tickets that may be sold, and the charity with the highest number of tickets sold, will be awarded an additional $1,000 from the Festival Board.

General tickets, $10/adult and $5/children, will go on sale to the public on July 1 at all area HyVee locations. ­Participation is limited to 30 non profits so organizations are encouraged to apply now by downloading an application at www.midwestballoonfest.org/CharityChallenge.aspx

"This event has the potential to provide 30 area non-profit organizations with much needed funds," Robbie Small, festival coordinator, said. "We are particularly thrilled that smaller non-profits, who do great work in our community, but don’t have extensive fundraising capabilities, will have equal opportunity to benefit from ticket sales and the charity balloon race."

Drawing nearly 50,000 fans over three days, the 3rd Annual US Bank U.S. Bank Midwest Balloon Fest will feature 60 balloons, including fabulous special shape and corporate balloons from across the country, balloon glows and competitions, children’s activities, balloon rides, special Friday and Saturday night concerts and a Saturday morning 5k/10k "Race With the Balloons" that will coincide with the morning balloon competitions.

The festival is conveniently located on the grounds of the Great Mall of the Great Plains, at approximately I-35 and 151st Street in Olathe. Single-day, discounted adult tickets may be purchased for $10 each from participating charities listed on the festival website, www.MidwestBalloonFest.org. Tickets for kids 5-12 are $5, and kids 5 and under are FREE. All balloon activities are subject to weather permitting. Parking is FREE.

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BALLOON INFLATION OUTSIDE UNION STATION TO KICK OFF 2014 U.S. BANK GREAT MIDWEST BALLOON FESTIVAL CHARITY RACE CHALLENGE

KANSAS CITY, MO – May 2, 2014 Organizers of the U.S. Bank Great Midwest Balloon Festival will kick off the Balloon Festival Charity Race Challenge on Wednesday morning, May 8th at 7:45 am in front of Kansas City’s Union Station with the inflation of U.S. Bank’s full-sized, hot air balloon.

Sponsors, volunteers, organizers and representatives of local charities participating in the challenge will gather to kick-off discount ticket sales benefitting and exclusively available only through participating charitable organizations. Starting May 8, tickets will be available directly from the charities or online at www.midwestballoonfest.org. Half the value of every $10 adult ticket sold will benefit participating charities.

Charities benefitting from ticket sales and the first ever Fox and Hound Charity Balloon Race, which will take place during the festival and net one charity a $10,000 Grand Prize, represent both sides of the state line and include: Jerusalem Farm, Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center, Guadalupe Centers Inc., Deb’s House, Romanian Orphanage, Sunflower House, Children’s Miracle Network, Chartrand Charitable Foundation, Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City, Mattie Rhodes Center, Wounded Warrior Project and KVC Behavioral Healthcare Kansas.

"The Balloon Festival is truly a Kansas City event which will draw over 50,000 attendees from all over the metro and the Midwest," Robbie Small, festival coordinator, said. "We are thrilled to be able to kick-off the Charity Challenge in front of one of Kansas City’s most iconic landmarks – Union Station. We hope that Kansas Citians will purchase their festival tickets in advance from the charity of their choice as a way to support and recognize the amazing work they do."

There are currently six openings for the Charity Challenge still available. Interested, non-profit, 501 (c) (3), organizations must complete an application available for download at www.midwestballoonfest.org/CharityChallenge.aspx and agree to sell a minimum of 100 advance adult tickets to the festival ($10 each). Those wishing to raise additional funds will earn $5 for every ticket sold beyond the required 100. There is no limit to the number of tickets that may be sold, and the charity with the highest number of tickets sold, will be awarded an additional $1,000 from the Festival Board. General tickets will go on sale to the public on July 8 at the advance price of $10 for adults and $5 for children or at the gate for $15 for adults and $5 for children.

Drawing nearly 50,000 fans over two days, the 3rd Annual US Bank U.S. Bank Midwest Balloon Fest will feature 60 balloons, including fabulous special shape and corporate balloons from across the country, balloon glows and competitions, children’s activities, balloon rides, a 5K Race With the Balloons on Saturday a.m., August 10 and special Friday and Saturday night concerts. The festival is conveniently located on the grounds of the Great Mall of the Great Plains, at approximately I-35 and 151st Street in Olathe. All balloon activities are subject to weather permitting. Parking is free.