TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

Sponsors Needed For Hot Air Balloon Fundraiser

ADVERTISEMENT

Special to Highlands Today

Published: May 20, 2008

SEBRING – Broker Chip Boring, of RE/MAX Realty Plus of Sebring, and RE/MAX Realty Plus II of Lake Placid, will sponsor a hot air balloon to benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Highlands County's charity event May 30-31.

Following last year's successful fundraiser, the second annual "Balloon Glow" will be Friday, May 30, and the "Lift Off Event" will be Saturday, May 31, at the entrance to the Sebring Raceway and Airport.
"Young people who attend Boys and Girls Clubs in Florida show higher high school graduation rates and better behavior, resulting in increased lifetime earnings," said Florida Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp. "An investment in our children is an investment in our future. The independent study's results are proof that Florida's Boys and Girls Clubs continue to influence our young people and our economy, both for the better."

Pam Mooney, event coordinator, said, "Personally, I don't know what I would have done without Boys and Girls Club."

"I was a single parent raising a son by myself. My son would go directly to the club after school. There, he would find help with his homework and supervised after-school activities while I was still at work."

The goal of the "Second Annual Balloon Festival" is to raise funds to help the Boys and Girls Clubs continue to help young people.

Last year, funds in excess of $30,000 were needed to complete the Boys and Girls Club reopening in Avon Park.

"Now, we have received calls from Spring Lake and Lake Placid that indicate a need for a club in their areas," says Mooney. "We have had some great people who have responded with promises of their help this year. But we need more help to fill the needs of those asking for a club in their community, and to maintain the Club we presently have in Sebring."

The RE/MAX balloon will join 20 other hot air balloons carrying passengers flying over Highlands County on May 30.

Anyone can ride tethered hot air balloons during "Balloon Glow" on Friday night at 7 p.m. The field on Airport Road will be filled with food vendors, music, clowns, games for kids, and drawings for generous door prizes every half hour.

Sponsorship for the event starts at $250. Sponsors will meet the hot air balloon pilots Saturday morning in the Chateau Elan Lobby. This balloon flight "Lift Off Event" will be accompanied by the sounds of bag pipes playing. After the balloonists land, the pilots and sponsors will enjoy a champagne toast and continental breakfast.

Call Pam Mooney at Ridge Florist to be a sponsor at 465-4092.

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT