BY BRANDY TEMPLETON
National Balloon Rally Charities Inc., the nonprofit that puts on the Carolina BalloonFest every October, continued its 50th anniversary celebration on Tuesday evening.
During its annual Night of Giving, the organization gifted a total of $125,000 to local organizations and nonprofits.
Bill Meadows, one of the founder’s of Iredell County’s signature event, received a standing ovation, and several others in attendance were lauded for their contributions to the success of the Carolina Balloon Fest.
Incoming Board Chairman Pressly Maddox said it takes 1,000 volunteers to put on the annual three-day event. He recognized them and expressed his gratitude for their collective efforts.
Director Sam Parks summed up the 2025 festival with seven words: “Man! What a year!” he said. “It was great.”
John Ferguson, director of Statesville Regional Airport, helps with the local Civil Air Patrol, which was one of the beneficiaries at Tuesday’s event. The donation will help fund the organization’s youth search and rescue air missions, he said.
Jim Head accepted a check on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Statesville.
“We’re using it for our scholarship fund,” he said. “Five high school seniors will get $2,000 each.”
Additional funds will help Iredell County 4-H purchase a van.
Another nonprofit that received funds was Mooresville’s Guardians of the Children. President Nathan Armas said those funds would support the group’s efforts to prevent child abuse and support child abuse victims and their families.
RECIPIENTS
The following organizations received a financial contribution from National Balloon Rally Charities:
♦ BSA Troops 1314, 166, 314, 1373, 377, 607, 609 and 363;
♦ Restoration Road Ministry;
♦ Rotary Club of Statesville;
♦ Civil Air Patrol;
♦ Crosby Scholars;
♦ Ford Family;
♦ Guardians of the Children;
♦ Mitchell Community College Endowment
♦ Sassy Caps;
♦ Rainbow Kidz;
♦ United Way of Iredell;
♦ Piedmont Veterans Assistance Council;
♦ Yokefellow Ministry;
♦ Crossroads Arts & Science Early College;
♦ Piedmont Animal Rescue;
♦ Fifth Street Ministries;
♦ Campbell Masonic Lodge;
♦ Statesville Kiwanis;
♦ Ostwalt Baptist Church;
♦ Piedmont Folkways;
♦ Mitchell Community College Beverly Hedrick Scholarship;
♦ Purple Heart Homes;
♦ Iredell County Special Olympics;
♦ Gordon Hospice House;
♦ Adult Day Services;
♦ Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Iredell;
♦ Carolina Balloon Museum; and
♦ Balloon Federation of America