Dismas Charities became a Patron Sponsor of the 2014 Kentucky Derby Festival with help of residents and staff who assisted with Thunder Over Louisville fireworks display, an event which hosted nearly 700,000 visitors. Thunder Over Louisville, is a premier event in the two week long Derby Festival of Events leading up to the Kentucky Derby the first Saturday of May. This year prior to the event 11 residents and staff set up tables and chairs for viewers. The following morning, staff and 22 residents cleared the cleared the area known as the Great Lawn, a prime viewing area. The Portland program participants and staff have been active supporters of this Derby event for the past 10 years.
