Special to BradleyBraves.com by Patrick Morey
PEORIA, Ill.-- It's an exciting time on the Bradley University campus. The spring semester is in full swing, spring sports seasons are getting underway and Kaboom! is about to celebrate a first birthday.
As many people already know Kaboom! was introduced last year on February 22 in a men's basketball game against Loyola Chicago. Bradley's new mascot was introduced to music, fireworks and light display coming out right next to the student section. The idea behind Kaboom! came from the gargoyles on Bradley Hall and the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center and his name originated with the signature call of Hall of Famer broadcaster Dave Snell.
Bradley is teaming up with Children's Home to celebrate Kaboom!'s birthday at the
men's basketball game against Loyola Chicago Sunday at Carver Arena. The festivities will include a pre-game party that will be hosted by the guest of honor beginning at 11 a.m. in the Peoria Civic Center's Great Hall lobby. Because it's a first birthday party, Kaboom!'s Korner will feature a bounce house, face painting, a Team Bradley coloring station and entertainment by The Unique Twist, who will unveil a new Kaboom! balloon creation.
Fans also may sign a giant birthday card, which will be presented to Kaboom! during the game.
And what is a birthday celebration without some gifts? Kaboom! would love to receive gifts from everybody, but wants all of the gifts to be something for the Children's Home Baby Beginnings Project.
Sunday's birthday gift drive is just another connection between Bradley University and Children's Home. In fact, Bradley University matriarch Lydia Moss Bradley also was one of the founding members of The Children's Home back in 1866, 30 years before she founded Bradley University.
“It could be diapers, baby wipes or baby clothes,” said Jody Smith-Brown, an annual
giving coordinator at Children's Home. “We have been getting calls from the community, they are really responding.”
Not only is bringing gifts a good thing to do for children in need, donors may benefit, too: every fan donating an item at Kaboom!'s Birthday Party Sunday from the Baby Beginnings Project list provided by Children's Home will receive a voucher that may be redeemed at the Carver Arena box office for a 50 percent discount on the ticket purchasing transaction for seats in the White ($4), Red ($7) and Bronze ($10) seating sections for Sunday's game against the Ramblers.
The game between the Braves and Loyola will tip at 1 p.m. at Carver Arena. Come out and support Kaboom!'s birthday and help some kids in need.
