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Adam Matthews Foundation

The Adam Matthews Foundation was Founded in 1999. Our mission statement supports community projects, events and charities that significantly add value to Louisville, our home town. We are a non-profit 501c3 organization helping to better the community in which we live.

In 1983 Adam Burckle founded Adam Matthews, a cheesecake bakery. In 1999 Adam and his wife Mary Lee wanted to focus on their charitable giving and to give back to Louisville, their hometown, in a more structured manor. Plans were laid out and the Foundation took root. Their first major donation was a carousel to the Louisville Zoo, with the founding of the Foundation the plans were laid out for a balloon Festival.

For years in the winter of the year Bowman Field hosted a balloon glow where people could drive though, see the balloons glow and make a canned food donation to Kentucky Harvest. After the event ceased Adam contacted Bowman to inquire as to bringing back to Bowman a glow, air show and more in the form of a balloon festival. So in 1999 the Adam Matthews Foundation Balloon Festival began. With 52 balloons and a small gathering of people the event set a sail for blue skies and crisp dark evenings set a glow with balloons.

As the years have moved forward so has the Foundation. In 2005 the Foundation helped staff the British Bash held at St. Joe's Childrens Home. The event saw great success with a record amount of cars, 42% more than their previous record along with they were able to give double the donation to St. Joe's.