On April 18, Blessings in a Backpack Louisville Chapter and the Unbridled Charitable Foundation, Inc. partnered to bring the Derby experience to students at Field Elementary Schools as part of their fourth annual “Unbridled Afternoon.”

“Today was all about letting the students at Field Elementary embrace the joy and excitement of Derby season,” said Kim Holsclaw, Managing Director of the Blessings in a Backpack Louisville Chapter. “Thanks to the Unbridled Charitable Foundation, Inc., and our amazing community partners, these kids got to experience something truly special — many for the first time. We’re so grateful for everyone who helped make this unforgettable day happen.”

As an ode to the annual Unbridled Eve Gala that occurs the evening before the Kentucky Derby and fundraises to help several nonprofits, including the Blessings in a Backpack Louisville Chapter, this kid-friendly event will allow students to experience their own Derby events. The two organizations began holding this event at local elementary schools in the Louisville area in 2022, with previous events held at Engelhard Elementary, Hawthorne Elementary, and Camp Taylor Elementary.

During the Unbridled Afternoon event, the students received the full Unbridled Eve Gala treatment as if they were at the event and experienced other pre-Derby events. They walked a red carpet and had their photo taken in front of the step-and-repeat, mingled with local celebrities, visited a horse in a petting area, saw a hot air balloon in honor of the Balloon Glow, received snacks and cookies generously donated by Roosters Wings, and cheered on their teachers during a stick-horse race called by Louisville radio personality Ben Davis of 99.7 DJX.

Local celebrities in attendance included:

• Mario Anderson – Spectrum News anchor
• Gia Combs – 2021 Kentucky Derby Festival Queen and 2023 Miss Cosmos United States
• Valerie Combs – Former University of Louisville basketball player
• Caray Grace – WLKY anchor
• First Lady Rachel Greenberg
• Aron Haddad (formerly WWE Damien Sandow) — Actor, professional wrestler, producer and TV personality
• Heather French Henry – Former Miss America
• Taylor Henry – Miss Derby City
• Nate Johnson – Former University of Louisville basketball player
• Kentucky Derby Festival Royal Court Princesses Lilly Deljoo, Erica McPheeters, and Hannah Rager
• Dr. Marty Pollio – JCPS Superintendent
• Brian Shlonsky – WAVE anchor
• Peyton Siva – Former University of Louisville and professional basketball player and current assistant coach of the University of Louisville Men’s Basketball team
• Mario Urrutia — Former Cincinnati Bengals player and University of Louisville linebacker; founded Super Student Athletes

Mascots:

• Churchill Charlie from Churchill Downs
• Gecko from GEICO Louisville
• Max the Balloonman from RE/MAX
• Carali the Chicken from Carali’s Rotisserie Chicken
• Buzz E. Clippers from Great Clips
• Bubbles from Goldfish Swim School
• Truckie from Two Men and A Truck

Additionally, 20 Field Elementary students were also selected to join the Derby Festival Royal Court on Saturday, April 19, for The Children’s Tea with the Kentucky Derby Festival® Princesses.

“Unbridled Afternoon was a wonderful reminder of what community and compassion can do,” said Tonya York, co-founder, Unbridled Charitable Foundation, Inc. “Seeing the students’ excitement was the highlight of the day. These moments of connection and celebration are what make Derby season so meaningful.”

This event was sponsored by Louisville League of Mascots, Millennium Events, RE/MAX Properties East/Keren Benabou, and Roosters Wings.

To learn more about the Unbridled Charitable Foundation, Inc.’s Unbridled Eve, visit unbridledeve.com.