Bikes, Blues & BBQ resumes charity donations
After charity donations were suspended in 2008, some wondered about the fate of Bikes, Blues & BBQ. But the annual motorcycle rally bounced back into the black and was able to resume donations this year.
During a special celebration yesterday at the Fayetteville Town Center, Bikes, Blues & BBQ distributed $48,500 in donations to 33 local charities with the Fayetteville Boys and Girls Club, Life Styles Inc. and Peace at Home Shelter receiving the most funding, at $3,500 each.
CASA of NWA, Jackson Graves Foundation, NWA Economic Development District and Pagnozzi Charities received the second-highest amount, with $3,000 donated to each.
“This has been a tremendous year for the rally. Not only were we able to retire our debt from 2008, we were also able to pay all of this year’s expenses and get back to delivering on our promise of providing funds to local charities,” said Nelson Driver, Executive Director of Bikes, Blues & BBQ in a release issued during the ceremony.
Bikes, Blues & BBQ was unable to donate any funding at all last year. Instead, organizers say they focused on repaying debt the festival accumulated beginning in 2003 when a music sponsor backed out and forced the rally to begin borrowing money in order to make charity donations possible. Organizers said today that 2008 was the first year Bikes, Blues & BBQ has had to suspend donations.
The charities receiving money this year were selected first from those who requested funding in 2008. After their requests were satisfied, Bikes, Blues & BBQ selected recipients from this year’s submissions.
“We are finishing our 10 Anniversary rally with a bang and are well positioned for next year,” said Kenneth Mourton, Chairman of Bikes, Blues & BBQ. Next year’s rally is scheduled for Sept. 29 – Oct. 2, 2010.
2009 Bikes, Blues & BBQ Charity Donation Recipients
| Organization | Donation |
|---|---|
| Arkansas Visitation and Exchange Center | $500 |
| Arts Live Theatre | $500 |
| Big House Youth Outreach, Inc. | $500 |
| Circle of Friends - Arkansas Children's Hospital | $500 |
| Elkins HS Lady Elks Softball Team | $500 |
| Fayetteville Public Education Foundation | $500 |
| Humane Society of the Ozarks | $500 |
| Life Source International | $500 |
| Muscular Dystrophy Association | $500 |
| NWA Child Care Resource & Referral Center | $500 |
| Ozark Military Museum | $500 |
| SARPA, NWA Rape Crisis | $500 |
| Seven Hills Homeless Shelter | $500 |
| Sources for Community Independent Living | $500 |
| The Crisis Center | $500 |
| Youth Bridge | $500 |
| Big Brothers & Big Sisters of NWA | $1,500 |
| Habitat for Humanity of WACO | $1,500 |
| Horses for Healing | $1,500 |
| Juvenile Diabetes Association | $1,500 |
| NWA Free Health Center | $1,500 |
| Sheriff Ralph Baker Memorial Scholarship Fund | $1,500 |
| Special Olympics | $1,500 |
| Fayetteville Band Boosters | $2,500 |
| Jones TV | $2,500 |
| Single Parent Scholarship Fund | $2,500 |
| CASA of NWA | $3,000 |
| Jackson Graves Foundation | $3,000 |
| NWA Economic Development District | $3,000 |
| Pagnozzi Charities | $3,000 |
| Fayetteville Boys & Girls Club | $3,500 |
| Life Styles, Inc. | $3,500 |
| Peace at Home Shelter | $3,500 |
Source: Bikes, Blues & BBQ press release – Nov. 16, 2009
More from the Web
- Ozarks Unbound has a story with funding charts from 2004-2009.
- NWAnews.com has a story (subscription required).
- NWAhomepage.com has a 14-second video clip.
Comments
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Innarested Observer
November 17, 2009
Must be a slow news day…
Mullva
November 20, 2009
WOW!!! I guess I’ll have to pay up on a few bets. They actually paid out this year.
375,000 bikers (Bikes, Blues, & BullS*** numbers)
$48,500 in donations
=$0.77 for each visitor to an event that takes over our city for 5 days!
THIS IS CRAP!!!
David Franks
November 20, 2009
Doesn’t it seem ironic that Peace at Home Shelter received one of the top three donations from an event that is antithetical to peace at home?
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