Thanks for supporting Hot Air for Hope

The Center for Hope and Healing is extremely thankful to our wonderful community for the overwhelming support of the Inaugural Hot Air for Hope Balloon Festival presented by Carson Tahoe Health. To see the community come out and support this event and our organization was tremendous.

Hot Air for Hope would not have been possible if not for the amazing support of our sponsors, organizers, and volunteers. First and foremost, thank you to Carson Tahoe Health, our Title Sponsor for seeing the vision of our skies filled with balloons and supporting the Center for Hope and Healing and grieving families in our community. Hot Air for Hope would not have been possible without their support.

Thank you to all our amazing, generous Sponsors, because of you Hot Air for Hope was a huge success.

Exclusive Sponsors: Comstock Propane: Propane Sponsor and Supplier; Great Reno Balloon Races: Competition Sponsor; Nashville Social Club: Entertainment Sponsor; Evans Broadcast Co.: Media Sponsor; Carson Valley 20/30 Club: Kids Zone Sponsor; and the Cultural Arts Foundation of Douglas County: Arts Festival Sponsor.

Balloonatic Sponsors: Historian Inn; Balloon Nevada: Official Ride Provider; Carson Valley Inn and Big Blue Spa.

Balloonist Sponsors: West Ridge Homes Inc., Altitude Design Office, ProTec Finishes LLC, Les Schwab: Mark Smith Tire Center, Carson Valley Health, Bonanza Produce, Silver State Building Materials, American River Wealth Management, Re/Max Realty Affiliates, CV Flyte, ABE Printing and Copy Center, Country Financial: Rhonda Moore, Sierra Chef, Woodette’s Diner and Kubicek Balloons.

Aeronaut Sponsors: Stor-All, Jodi Wass MA MFT & Wass Family Trust, Robasciotti Family, Gretchen Leigh Photography, Carson Valley Kids, Genoa Bar, Nevada State Bank, AllState Insurance: Stacy Trivitt, VIP Rubber, The Door Company, Degenhart Realty Group, Three Castles Engineering, Douglas Disposal, Summit Plumbing and Starbucks Roasting Plant

Chase Crew Sponsors: Greater Nevada Credit Union, Coastal Aire and Sheet Metal, Jackson and Whitaker, Kim’s Donuts.

Thank you to the veterans and first responders who flew with us on Friday and their families, friends, and colleagues that came out to support them.

Community Partners: Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, East Fork Fire Protection District, Douglas County School District, Town of Minden, Douglas County, Douglas County Parks and Recreation, Town of Gardnerville, Douglas County Chamber of Commerce, Visit Carson Valley, Travel Nevada, News Channel 8, News Channel 2, News Channel 4 and The Record-Courier.

Thank you to Woodette’s Diner, Schat’s Bakery and Restaurant and Kim’s Donuts and Starbucks Roasting Plant for feeding our Pilots, Crew and Volunteers each morning.

We had many amazing volunteers come out to help with Chase Crew, Field Crew, Pilot Meals, Night Glow, Merchandise Sales, Clean Up and so much more. Thank you: Lorelei, Linda, Brian, Steve, Kristen, Mike, Linda, Kenny, Mattie, Sarah, Chance, Ashely, Autumn, Theresa, Pete, D’Art, Logan, Lily, Dori, Chloe, Katelyn, Sam, Bob, Irene, Zachary, Carina, Patricia, Peter, TJ, Wade, Markus, Meredith, Max, Claire, Robbi, Kim, Daphne, Megan, Bob, Lee, Suzie, Kathi, Theresa, Mardi, Sandy, John, Dana, Lance, Madison, Sarah and Dan, Josh, Patrick, Shasta, Pat B.,, Ann, Pat O., Marilyn, MaryAnn, Ken, Julie, Jackie, Madeline, Marleen, Daniel, Abbie, Abe, Julia, Adora, Anne, Mark, Malian, Kira, Roberta, and Dana.

Thank you to all of our Food & Craft Vendors, Non-Profits/Community Organizations and Donors: Go Nuts 4 Donuts, Blanhir’s Bakery, Grandpa Archies Ice Cream, Mama Bears Kitchen, Lolita’s Lumpias, CV Flyte, Blind Dog Coffee, Cook’d, Woodette’s Diner, Hungry Hearts, Calico Callie Inc, Lazy Littles Closet, Lambchop & Schnooks, Mamas Artz, Sierra Alpine Studios, Paper Pie, Paper Sails, NV-US Silver Works, Bodacious Custom, Sweeties Sweet Treats, Britany Ana Creations, Michelle Mulligan Pottery, Shop Janiece Blessings, Cotton Candy Clouds, Hay Pineapple, Sage, Bead Beauty by Christine, Sabrina Frey, Wildings, & Oak, Mary Meeden, Pulse Fitness, jtaydesigns, By Tay Rae/Jenny Wren, Bent Glass, Dance Workshop, Pulse Fitness, Casa de Turquoise, Cast Iron Babe, Suicide Prevention, Carson Valley Health, Reno Aces, Las Vegas Raiders, Cottonwood Creek Gifts, Heartstrings, Fast Frames, Elevated Party Rental, CV Bounce, Minden Bouncers, Carson Valley Active 20/30 Club, CV Sertoma, Main Street Gardnerville, DC Grapplers, CV Little League, Carson Tahoe Health, Moxy Up and Minden-Tahoe Airport

We had many talented performers join us on stage, and we are thankful that they shared their passion and talent with us. Pau Wa Lu Choir, Carson Valley Middle School Choir, Ben JohnsonPatrick Hansen, Darren Senn, Karrie O’Neill, Reno Swing Set, Sierra Roc, Painting Demo By Kirsi Whear, Dance Workshop Hip Hop Dance Group, DJ Bingo by DJ Trivia Sierra Nevada, Metal Sculpting by Terrence & Mari Martin, Aerial Dance by CBP Aerial Arts, Martial Arts Demo by North West Martial Arts, Douglas High School Show Band, sound by Randy Jorgenson and announcing by Brett Freeman and Todd Whear.

The Center for Hope and Healing is so thankful to five local pilots who took a leap of faith with us and worked tirelessly to bring the balloons to our valley and put on an amazing balloon event and competition. Greg Nelson: Balloonmeister & Media Director, Allen Anderson: Chief Competition Director, Jason Smith: Operations Director, Ken Azevedo: Chief Scoring Officer and Sheldon Grauberger: Landowner Relations Officer.

Behind the scenes a lot of work went into putting this event on, thank you to the Center for Hope and Healing Board of Directors, Todd Whear: President, Telsche Hipple: Vice President: Gary Thurm, Treasurer, Jackie Smith: Secretary and Amanda Johnson: Executive Director. Thank you to Lori Anderson: Chief Safety Officer, Chris Coldoff: Field Layout Coordinator, Laura Meaders: Communications Director, Dan Gudgel: Weather Officer, Shawn Wagner, Jennifer Anderson, Tim Nelson, Tracy Nelson: Competition Team. And a special thank you to our Professor B’Loon, Tracy Nelson, for going to all valley schools educating our students on ballooning.

Amanda Johnson is executive director of the Center for Hope and Healing.