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News › Bikes, Blues & BBQ, Donates $100,000 To Charities
The cost of expanding the Bikes, Blues & BBQ festival caused donations to charity to shrink slightly in 2007, but organizers say the numbers will take off next year.
The annual motorcycle rally and music festival handed out $100,000 to 27 area charities Wednesday, down from $135,000 distributed last year. Additional security costs and capital outlays including electrical upgrades and hardware should be complete, meaning more money will be available next year, said Kenneth Mourton, chairman of the festival's board of directors.
The board spent $282,000 over the last two years to improve electrical access, fencing around events and other improvements as the festival expanded its presence at the Randal Tyson Track Center. The track center has helped take pressure off Dickson Street as the event has grown in size, said Jeff Koenig, secretary treasurer of the board.
"Now that we've expanded our footprint to the point that we're comfortable with it, we should see these costs receding," said Koenig, who is also a candidate for mayor of Fayetteville. "We've spent the big chunks, and there should be more money freed up from here on out."
The event showed a $54,000 profit this year, and the combined profit and reserve funds allowed organizers to donate the $100,000.
"This will help make 2008 so much better for us. We've had a great relationship with the Bikes Blues folks, and can't thank them enough for their support," said Eric Schuldt, director of the Donald W. Reynolds Boys & Girls Club. "They make a huge contribution to our programs."
The club and the regional chapter of the American Red Cross were the two biggest beneficiaries at $20,000 each. Other groups received between $7,500 and $500.
"I hope they don't think we're going to spend this on restoring an old military motorcycle, because it's going in our building fund for expansion," Leonard McCandless of the Ozark Military Museum said of the group's $1,000 check. "This gets us that much closer."
The event, which former board chairman Richard Watson recalled began in 1999 as "me and some of the guys talking in the alley between the police station and the chamber of commerce," originally donated all profits to support area Meals on Wheels programs. The program, now run by the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District, received $5,000 this year.
"This is what the festival is all about," said board member Dan Hebert. "The rally is great, but our purpose is to provide some funds for all these charities."
The festival has donated profits to charity every year except 2003, when the event operated in the red due to sluggish concert ticket sales.
The 2008 festival is scheduled for Sept. 24-27.
AT A GLANCE
Bikes, Blues & BBQ Funds
Charities receiving support from the 2007 Bikes, Blues & BBQ Festival include:- Donald W. Reynolds Boys & Girls Club: $20,000
- Red Cross, Northwest Arkansas Chapter: $20,000
- Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District: $7,500
- Fayetteville Band Boosters: $5,000
- Pagnozzi Charities: $5,000
- Peace at Home Family Shelter: $5,000
- Walton Arts Center: $5,000
- Fayetteville Public Schools Athletic Department: $4,000
- Jackson L. Graves Foundation: $4,000
- Children's House: $3,000
- Northwest Arkansas Free Health Center: $3,000
- Rebuilding Together of Northwest Arkansas: $3,000
- Single Parent Scholarship Fund: $2,000
- Taylor-Lackey Fund: $1,500
- Youth Bridge: $1,000
- Sources: $1,000
- Seven Hills Homeless Shelter: $1,000
- Ralph Baker Memorial Scholarship Fund: $1,000
- Ozark Military Museum: $1,000
- NWA Association for the Deaf: $1,000
- Life Styles: $1,000
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation: $1,000
- Fayetteville Police Department: $1,000
- Circle of Friends : $1,000
- Arkansas Sheriff's Youth Ranches: $1,000
- Big House Youth Outreach: $500
- Elkins Youth Club: $500
Source: Northwest Arkansas News
Posted by editor on Friday, December 21, 2007 (18:54:31) (172 reads)
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