Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation LAUNCHED Annual Fund Campaign

NOVEMBER 1, 2009 with the

1st Annual CUPunkin'Chuckin' Challenge: Making an Impact

On November 1, 2009, the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation held a smashing event from noon - 4 pm on the corner of Prospect and Olympian at the Pinehurst Fields in Champaign! Nationally known Acme Catapult, Inc. provided us with an exhibition by launching over 32 pumpkins (one-at-a-time) at approx. 300 mph, 600 ft. high and 900 feet long at a MTD CITY BUS (The Pumpkin-Eater)!

Results

We had 2 direct hits on the Bus! Our new WORLD CHAMPION for 2009 is the East Central Illinois Building & Construction Council!! Congratulations! This organization, represented by Dan McCall, received the traveling trophy and a limited edition ball-cap with our Chuck the PunkinPilot on it!

Close-up-DIRECT-Winning-HIT-ECIBCTC---Dessen

And, Congratulations to EPTCO Computers for taking 2nd Place with another Direct Hit!

Results including the distances and a map plotting where the pumpkins hit is available here as a PDF!

Here were the launch times (PDF)

Watch WICD's coverage of PunkinChuckin!

Video 1: WICD covers PunkinChuckin

Video 2: Gail is on the set of WICD

Listen to our Interview With WIXY!

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Event Presenter:

Event Host:

Event Sponsors:

Event Supporters:

Curtis Orchard and Pumpkin Patch

THANKS to all who participated in this 1st year event!

Our fantastic viewing audience (!!)

Vendors: Bobos BBQ and KettleKorn and IAWC giving out water! We also sold t-shirts - We still have some so call the office for yours!

Talent: Diane Ducey and Tom Young - These guys were fantastic! It would have been a flop without their energy and great talk!

The Parkland Survey Class and Todd Horton - taking on the ÒspotÓ measurements for determining Acme accuracy

OUR VOLUNTEERS!! WOW!

THE 2009 Punkin'Chuckin' COMMITTEE and CUSF staff!! DOUBLE WOW!

Anne Broom
Lizanne DeStefano
Steve Gardner
Barb Mann
Linda Moore
Gail Rost
Masha Trenhaile
Dave Wetherell
Zach Wetherell
Shelley Williams
Kristin Williamson
Craig Rost
Jane Solon
Katie Malone
Pat Dessen
Roxann Bossenbroek
Jacob Schmit

Our MAJOR SPONSORS did an amazing job!! We had great press, a wonderful location, and all the pumpkins we needed...

The News Gazette
ABC NewsChannel 15
WDWS/WHMS
The Atkins Group
AND, we can't forget THAT ORANGE "The Pumpkin-Eater" MTD BUS!!! THANKS, MTD!

The CORPORATIONS and ORGANIZATIONS that supported the pumpkins to be hurled and actually made this a fundraiser...

Beckett and Webber
Carpenters Local #44
Christopher's Fine Jewelry Design
Cozad Asset Management
East Central Illinois Building & Construction Council
EPTCO
Frogs and Fairies, a unique boutique
Kirby Foods, Inc.
Lincolnshire Country Club
Merrill Lynch, Champaign Branch
MTD, The Employees of
Nally, Bauer, Feinen & Mann, P.C.
Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 149
Precision Graphics
Shelby Motors
Smith Burgett Architects
Wampler Property Management, LLC
Webber and Thies, P.C.
WIXY, Holstein and Company
Wolfram Research

AND, our Business SPONSORS - most of whom gave us in-kind services that kept us from going into the "hole" on this and added must-have services...

Berns Clancy Engineers
Brown Woods Associates
Champaign Rotary West
Curtis Orchard and Pumpkin Patch, LTD
Herriotts Rental and Herriotts Roastery
Illini Studio
Illinois American Water Company
Kemper Industrial Equipment/Midwest Pottyhouse
Knox-Array Event Production
Martin Hood Friese
Parkinson and Berns
Pepsi-Cola Champaign-Urbana Bottling Co
Reynold's Towing
Steve Gardner
Tyler Ingram
University Construction
UpClose Printing