Greeley balloon display event is all about the kids

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A Greeley non-pro t hosted the nation’s fourth largest Big Balloon event featuring thousands of small balloons on July 20 through 24 at the Aims Community College.

“ e Big Balloon Build is an international non-pro t that partners with charities and the world’s top balloon artists to raise awareness and funds to help children. In the last 18 months, it has successfully raised more than $500,000 for charities,” said Melanie Hungerford, Big Balloon Build Impact & Engagement Coordinator, in an email press release.

e event had its ribbon-cutting celebration with children and youth served by the Life Stories Child &

Family Advocacy. e children got to walk through the Aims Welcome Center, a magical space with more than 125,000 balloons larger than life.

“We work with kids who have childhood issues, making childhood challenging. It was fantastic to offer something to kids that lights up their life and heart and bring them a memory they’ll never forget, “ said Gwen Schooley, executive director, Life Stories Child & Family Advocacy.

Allison Dunning owner of Balloon Art by Merry Makers in Greeley, for 22 years is an awarded-winning balloon artist that is an instructor and travels to organizes 75 balloon artists from all over Greeley to volunteer to participate in this four-day colorful enormous event.

“I give a lot to my community, to my family, to my businesses. Seeing the joy in the faces of the children is what lls my cup up so that I can continue to do what I do. e world can be harsh and my sole purpose is to bring joy. I do that with balloons. So in a nutshell, seeing those faces means literally everything to me,” Dunning said. e event raises funds for Life Stories Child & Family Advocacy, an organization that helps children who experience abuse or neglect in Weld County.

Schooley said they were approached over a little over a year ago by Alison Dunning from Balloon Art by Merrymakers when she applied be a host Greeley for the next balloon build. “ en she did apply with life stories, and she got. en she started talking

Balloon build event in detail and making sure that we were able to help her pull it o ,” Schooley said.

After the event, the balloons will be donated to the Life Stories Child & Family Advocacy to share with communities while raising funds.

“ e kids were excited when you saw their faces in the room. Hearing about balloons is one thing, but being in the room and seeing how many balloons and the characters they turned them into. It was just fanciful and di erent, something they would never see again,” Schooley said.

“All proceeds from the Big Balloon Build Colorado bene t Life Stories Child & Family Advocacy, which gives a voice to children who have been abused or neglected,” said Hungerford in the release.