For the second year, the DRI Foundation will join over 300 charity organizations for the 8th Annual Rusty Ball at the Duke Energy Convention Center on October 24, 2015. The event, hosted by the 80’s cover band The Rusty Griswolds and the Spirit of Cincinnatus, has raised over $1 million since its start in 2008 in support of Cincinnati’s charitable community.
The DRI Foundation promotes disaster risk reduction through partnership and education, and aids recovery efforts through fundraising and volunteerism. Thanks to the generous donations of our supporters, all proceeds go toward initiatives to build back resilient communities worldwide.
The DRI Foundation supplied auction items for last year’s event, including a Goodyear blimp ride for six people. The winner of this rare experience that’s not often available to the public was Susan Kromer Hunt, who served on the 2014 and 2015 Rusty Ball committee and leads the GIVEHOPE Pancreatic Cancer Research Alliance, which has been a beneficiary since 2011.
“We were not aware of the Foundation when we bid on the blimp ride but since then have learned the great things the Foundation is doing,” said Kromer Hunt.
The blimp ride left from Akron, OH, with Kromer Hunt, her husband, his daughter, her grandson, and two friends aboard as passengers.
“My husband is a commercial pilot glider and private pilot single engine. He and I are both aerospace engineers. This was a once in a lifetime experience for us. The ride was FANTASTIC, the crew was so very personable. How a blimp takes off is so very different from anything we have ever ridden in. Since it also flies at a comparatively low altitude for its size, the view is fantastic,” she said.
Regarding the charity event, Kromer Hunt continued, “The Rusty ball is not only the best charity event you will attend all year, it is unique in that it helps many charities in one night. With the wide variety of charities the silent auction and raffle is the most diverse you will find at a charity event. I lead GIVEHOPE Pancreatic Cancer Alliance which is also a beneficiary but spent my money supporting DRI Foundation which is exactly what The Rusty Ball hopes to accomplish.”
The DRI Foundation encourages certified professionals to join its board members and over 4,000 attendees on October 24 to rock out in support of the Foundation’s mission to build resilient communities worldwide. General Admission tickets are $75 each and includes admission to the party, 4 drink tickets (beer, wine, soft drinks, water) and a discounted rate at the Hilton or the Millennium Hotel. Visit The Rusty Ball and buy your tickets today before they sell out! Make sure to select the DRI Foundation as the beneficiary of your ticket purchase.
About this year’s auction item
Learn how you can join the DRI Foundation at the 2015 Rusty Ball and bid on this year’s auction item, an exclusive family portrait plus luxury 5 diamond hotel stay in New York or Palm Beach, donated by Bradford Renaissance Portraits.