Event Gallery

The DreamShip visited the Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival in Battle Creek, Michigan, as it continued its second national tour to raise awareness for Folds of Honor, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational scholarships to children of fallen or disabled service members. The Rite Aid Foundation’s KidCents program, in partnership with Folds of Honor, created the DreamShip as a symbol of the hopes and dreams of children of military families.

The DreamShip made a second appearance at the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival in Winchester, California. Attendees enjoyed tethered balloon rides and learned more about the mission of Folds of Honor to support the children of fallen or disabled military service members. One of the highlights of the event is the evening Balloon Glow that lights up the night sky with colorful hot air balloons.

The DreamShip recently touched down at the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Invitational Golf Tournament in Owasso, Oklahoma, as part of its second national tour. Rite Aid President and COO Kermit Crawford, who is also president of The Rite Aid Foundation, represented the Rite Aid team at this special event.

As part of its second national tour, the DreamShip touched down in Kent, Washington, for a special appearance at the Washington Open Invitational Pro-Am golf tournament, which pairs amateurs with PGA professionals in support of Folds of Honor.

Associates at the Rite Aid Distribution Center in Wilsonville, Oregon, held its 12th Annual CMN Hospital Plant Sale, welcoming friends, family members and neighbors to buy plants and enjoy food and activities in raising funds for nearby Doernbechers Childrens Hospital. Attendees were also able to take tethered rides on the 8-story-tall DreamShip hot air balloon, which was making a multi-day stop in Wilsonville as part of its second national tour to raise awareness for Folds of Honor.

The DreamShip continues to lift up the dreams of children of military families during its second national tour, which kicked off at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival outside Seattle. This annual festival features special events like barbecues, bike tours, art workshops and much more - all in celebration of the millions of tulips blooming in scenic Skagit Valley.

The DreamShip joined more than 100 hot-air balloons at the Adirondack Balloon Festival, September 21-24, 2017. The annual festival is one of Upstate New York’s most popular fall events and this year was no exception. The flight of the balloons on a picture perfect day was breathtaking for festival goers. Experience the flight of the DreamShip by clicking on the Adirondack Balloon Festival video here. Video provided courtesy of Pepe Productions.

The DreamShip's nationwide tour continued to raise awareness for Folds of Honor with a special appearance at the EQT Three Rivers Regatta in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Regatta - the largest inland regatta in the nation, and one of the tri-state region's largest events - drew more than half a million visitors.

With the Philadelphia Art Museum as a backdrop, the DreamShip was appropriately showcased during the celebration of America’s birthday in America’s birthplace. Wawa Welcome America in Philadelphia is one of the nation’s largest 4th of July celebrations with over 50 multicultural and multigenerational events. The DreamShip attracted thousands of festival-goers from July 1 through July 4, 2017.

The DreamShip hot-air balloon traveled to the West Coast and thrilled festival goers at the Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival in Winchester, California. Visitors were able to see the DreamShip up-close and learn about The Rite Aid Foundation’s KidCents program and how they can support Folds of Honor.

The DreamShip hot-air balloon made an appearance at the 40th anniversary of the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon.

Unilever hosted the DreamShip hot-air balloon at its National Sales Meeting in Orlando, Florida, where employees learned about the DreamShip’s mission and had the opportunity to meet Folds of Honor scholarship recipients and their families.

The DreamShip made a tour stop at FNB Field, home of the MiLB Harrisburg Senators. This Harrisburg, Pennsylvania stop drew hundreds of baseball fans to see the 8-story-high hot-air-balloon.

Madison Lahr, a Folds of Honor recipient, and her step-father, Bradly Fasnacht, watch the Harrisburg Senators MiLB game at FNB Field in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The DreamShip hot-air balloon was a hit with baseball fans. Tethered balloon rides gave thrill-seekers a glorious view of the baseball stadium and the Harrisburg city skyline.

The DreamShip thrilled NASCAR fans at the 2017 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, March 5 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. The 8-story-high hot-air balloon was one of the main attractions at the Fan Zone as it raised awareness and funds for Folds of Honor scholarships given to children of fallen or disabled soldiers.

Attendees learned more about the mission of the DreamShip at the Fan Zone stage. The QuikTrip 500 is the second race of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

The DreamShip was proudly lifting the hopes and dreams of Folds of Honor children at the third turn of the Atlanta Motor Speedway during race-day. The race was won by the #2 Ford Fusion driven by Brad Keselowski for Team Penske.

The DreamShip amazed golfers at Southern Highlands Golf Course in Las Vegas Nevada, during the 16th annual Rite Aid Foundation Golf Classic. The Classic raises money for improving the lives of children and the communities Rite Aid serves.

Shannon Allen (right) and her daughter 8-year-old Journey Allen (center) joined CEO of Rite Aid Stores, President of Rite Aid Corporation and President of The Rite Aid Foundation Ken Martindale. Journey’s drawing was one of 130 children’s illustrations selected to be used in the design of the DreamShip hot-air balloon.

Golfers at the Southern Highlands Course in Las Vegas, Nevada, were treated to more than just birdies, chip shots and puts. They also got a first-hand look at the inspiring beauty of the DreamShip along the majestic golf course.

Enjoying a tethered hot-air balloon ride in the DreamShip are (from left to right) Brian Rohr, Balloon Pilot; Shannon Allen, mother of Folds of Honor scholarship recipient; Dave Dierinzo, VP, Corporate Partnerships, Folds of Honor; Journey Allen, Folds of Honor scholarship recipient; Sean Steinmark, Marketing Operations Group. Journey is the recipient of a Folds of Honor scholarship. Her father was severely wounded during military duty in Afghanistan and now receives 24-hour care.

The DreamShip flew proudly over the Southern Highlands golf course in Las Vegas, Nevada, lifting up the hopes and dreams of children whose parents have been killed or disabled during military service.

The DreamShip made a special appearance at Rite Aid’s corporate headquarters in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.

Students from The Nativity School (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.) joined Rite Aid associates. The Nativity School is one of more than 440 KidCents charities. KidCents is a Rite Aid Foundation-sponsored program which allows Rite Aid wellness+ with Plenti members to donate their change from purchases to designated charities.

Rite Aid associates gather outside the company’s corporate headquarters to see the DreamShip and its 130 illustrations, representing the dreams of children helped by Folds of Honor.

Rite Aid’s Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer Susan Henderson welcomed Rite Aid’s associates to take a tethered ride in the hot-air balloon.

CEO of Rite Aid Stores, President of Rite Aid Corporation and President of The Rite Aid Foundation Ken Martindale told Rite Aid associates that with each flight of the DreamShip, the hopes and dreams of the children helped by Folds of Honor are also lifted up.

Representative Scott Perry, 4th Congressional District, Pennsylvania (far left); Representative Sheryl Delozier, 88th Legislative District, Pennsylvania (second from left); CEO of Rite Aid Stores, President of Rite Aid Corporation and President of The Rite Aid Foundation Ken Martindale (center); and Representative Mike Regan, 31st Congressional District, Pennsylvania joined Rite Aid associates at the Camp Hill, Pennsylvania headquarters.

Dozens of Rite Aid associates were treated to tethered hot-air balloon rides.

Tethered rides in the DreamShip were an event highlight for many Rite Aid associates.

With Lady Liberty and One World Trade Center as a symbolic backdrop of the freedoms America's military proudly defend, the DreamShip took its inaugural flight from Liberty Landing Marina inside Liberty State Park, located in Jersey City, New Jersey.

New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno meets several Folds of Honor scholarship recipients whose artwork was used to create the DreamShip. Here Guadagno shakes the hand of 8-year-old Journey Allen of Atlanta, Georgia.

New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno talked with the young Folds of Honor scholarship recipients about their artwork and dreams for the future.

New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno highlights the state of New Jersey’s support of Folds of Honor and the DreamShip and describes the sacrifices military families make when their loved ones go to war.

CEO of Rite Aid Stores, President of Rite Aid Corporation and President of The Rite Aid Foundation Ken Martindale (back, left) and Major Dan “Noonan” Rooney, founder of Folds of Honor (back, right), join several Folds of Honor scholarship recipients in a model hot-air balloon for selfies.

DreamShip sponsors, dignitaries, well-wishers and Folds of Honor scholarship recipients pose for a group photograph at the DreamShip selfie station. Scholarship recipients are kneeling in front of the balloon.