PRESS RELEASE FROM THE RAGBRAI PUBLICITY COMMITTEE
OTTUMWA—Wearing an Ottumwa “’Rollin ‘Round O’Town RAGBRAI® t-shirt has benefits, according to Ottumwa RAGBRAI® co-chair Janet Paulson. With RAGBRAI® XXXVII less than eight weeks away, Ottumwans can “show their support for the July 23 event every Thursday,” she said.
RAGBRAI® Thursdays is a way to support Ottumwa. Proceeds from the t-shirts help host the event. “With over 20,000 visitors coming to Ottumwa, there are necessary costs, including portable toilets and showers, trash collection, and traffic control, just to name a few,” said Paulson. “The shirts are one way for the committee to generate revenue.” Events on July 23 such as the beverage garden are also designed to offset costs. “All proceeds will go back to the community to support the efforts of non-profit organizations,” she said.
Wearing a RAGBRAI® t-shirt on Thursdays is a charitable event at two local businesses. South Ottumwa Savings Bank and Ottumwa Psychiatric Clinic, P.C. offer employees the chance to pay to wear jeans with the t-shirts. In exchange, the funds will be donated to support local causes selected by the employees. Pam Kaupins, Senior Vice President, Director of Marketing at South Ottumwa Savings Bank, says, “RAGBRAI® Thursdays are an opportunity to generate excitement and encourage community and business camaraderie.”
And residents wearing the shirts could be featured each Friday in the Courier. Their “Gotcha” campaign highlights residents caught wearing their shirts on RAGBRAI® Thursdays.
The shirt also has added value on July 23. Residents wearing the local RAGBRAI® shirt will be allowed to enter the beverage garden for free and can get a reduced admission of $6 to The Beach Ottumwa. Area residents are advised to watch local business promotions during the next eight weeks. RAGBRAI® shirts can purchased for $10 ($12 for XXL and XXXL) at Hy-Vee, Hy-Vee Drugstore, O’Hara True Value Hardware, and O’Town Books.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKTVO