Coasting for Kids 2017?

Recently I got an email stating that Coasting for Kids is back, but only at Quassy and a park in Oklahoma. I suspect it is cleverly disguised spam, but I'm not sure. The dates are August 16th, which would kind of make sense since it's National Roller Coaster Day, and then another date in September. I'd like to sign up if this is the case, but I don't want to give my info if this is a scam. Anyone else hear CFK news?

It's on the Give Kids The World website, so it's an actual offer.

GKTW partnered with ACE last year to revamp the Coasting For Kids program, I expect this is the first result of that partnership.

http://support.gktw.org/site/PageNavigator/c4k_hmpg.html

They did no such thing with ACE.

Not to be argumentative, but, yes, they did.

You have no idea what went on last year. The event should have continued last year. We had a preliminary commitment from two big parks, but as staff changed, there was no follow through. It would have been huge. Then last year I put them together with one of those park's GM's at IAAPA, still no follow through.

I co-founded this event in 2009. It was important to me. It didn't have to miss a year, and one of the new partners could have made for an epic annual event and huge dollars. It's frustrating to work hard and leverage relationships, volunteering time, and not get results.

Um, yes, I do. You have no idea of my involvment with ACE.

The link on the website was very vague, and it seemed a little fishy to me, so I just wasn't sure. I know there are "imitation" websites that thieves use to gain information.

I'm still not clear as to WHY Cedar Fair stopped holding the event or why CFK pulled out from holding the event at Cedar Fair parks. The rules seemed to get more and more restrictive over the years, and the attitude towards CFK changed from one of generosity and excitement that we were there to "meh, you're raising money for kids but you're a pain in our asses". You'd think it could be a really fantastic opportunity for good press, and it's only one day. I was very sad to learn of the (apparently temporary) demise of the event.

I hope to get to Quassy for this. I've never been there, and CFK has meaning to me on so many levels, so it would be a fantastic trip for a good cause.

Cedar Fair decided to focus on more regional charities, for more direct involvement in the communities that they serve. Ouimet has spent a lot of time building better relationships at the local level, so strategically it makes sense. The company graciously hosted a number of GKTW reunion events at the parks last year, so they're not hands off. There is no ill will between CF and GKTW.

When the development manager left GKTW early last year, I worked on behalf of the village to reboot with a number of parks. I started those conversations with Pam's blessing. There was no point in working with clubs or organizations until there was an event to be had. The village owns the event (and the trademark); it's not anyone else's to reinvent. Unfortunately, the turnover in the position left a gap in leadership, so 2016 events didn't happen.

I will admit, I initially wondered if they pulled away from Cedar Fair because of the Dorney kerfuffle with the autistic employee. Kind of glad that wasn't the case.

What can we do to get the event more widely spread and sponsored? Two parks in the whole country seems like a tiny drop in the bucket. I'd love to help!

I had also wondered what happened to the relationship between GKTW and CF. The direction that Quimet wants to go makes perfect sense to me. I used to be involved with a charity event in a town about 60 miles from me, and solely because my former business partner was big in the charity. After buying him out, I supported it for another couple of years, but then it dawned on me that I should be doing that type of event in the town that I am located in, as it's where 95% of my customers come from.

And thanks bunky666 for teaching me how to spell kerfuffle.

I wasn't sure I DID spell it right, but I forgot to google it before posting, so it actually might be wrong.

I would actually think it would be easier for Cedar Fair to do one charity across the chain rather than have each park do something different. Easier to regulate, organize, etc. Not of course that they should just do whatever is easiest, but if the company had a good relationship with GKTW and it looked good for the park and contributed to a great cause, why couldn't they do both local AND national charity work?

Just got an email from GKTW and apparently BGW is now in it.