University of Nevada, Reno Balloon Race Scholarship Committee

Thank you to Clay Canvas for your donation of a Gift Certificate ($80 value) to the 2026 raffle drawing!

We appreciate you!

Home - The Clay Canvas Reno The Clay Canvas is Nevada’s original Paint Your Own Pottery studio, and we have been serving Northern Nevada for almost 30 years!  We are a contemporary Paint Your Own Pottery Studio. You paint, we glaze and fire, and finished pieces are ready in 1 week. Your finished pottery piece is food safe a...

Thank you to Cantina Los Tres Hombres for your donation of 2 $35 Gift Certificates to the 2026 raffle drawing!

We appreciate you!

Cantina Los Tres Hombres - Sparks, NV Cantina Los Tres Hombres is a purveyor of hand-crafted Mexican food and beverages from our esteemed service team. Cantina Los Tres Hombres was established in 1987. Since then, Cantina Los T...

Thank you to Bonanza Casino for your donation of 2 Sunday Brunch Buffet Certificates to the 2026 raffle drawing!

We appreciate you!

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Thank you to BJ's Barbecue for your donation of a $50 gift certificate to the 2026 raffle drawing!

We appreciate you!

BJ's BBQ - Sparks, NV BJ's Nevada Barbecue Company in Sparks, Nevada is celebrating 40 years as a favorite of locals and visitors. Established in 1986, we are proud to be family owned and operated, and we lo...

Thank you to A-1 Vacuum & Sewing for your donation of a $50 gift certificate to the 2026 raffle drawing!

We appreciate you!

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Thank you to Let's Roam for your donation of 2 Family Scavenger Hunt 10 Pack, 2 Date Night Scavenger Hunt 2 Pack, and 1 Virtual/In-Person Team Building Event to the 2026 raffle drawing!

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City Scavenger Hunts | Wander With Purpose | Let's Roam Let's Roam has Scavenger hunts and activities help you explore the world and connect with others.

📣Flower cards still available until June 30!

📣 Get a full year of flowers while supporting the UNR Balloon Race Scholarship Committee. This prepaid floral subscription card ($180 value) is your ticket to 12 months of fresh, wrapped bouquets—one for every month of the year.
💐 It’s the ultimate gift for alumni, parents, or Reno locals. Sparks Florist donates $15 from every card purchased, helping fund UNR undergraduate and graduate scholarships!
➡️ If you are interested, scan the QR code or go to: https://sparksflorist.com/pages/support-unr-balloon-race-scholarship-committee

📣Today is Giving Day! Help students soar to new heights!

Balloon Race Committee Student Support is one of many programs supported on Giving Day at UNR. Founded in 1986, the Balloon Race Scholarship Committee is a volunteer-powered unit at the University of Nevada, Reno that supports undergraduate and graduate students through annual scholarship awards.

From aspiring students to enrolled Nevada Wolf Pack leaders, scholarships make the journey possible. Support their dreams this Giving Day.

➡️Give today and create real impact at the link in our bio or the direct link https://tinyurl.com/2bchvav3, or visit givingday.unr.edu.

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our committee’s founder, advocate, and dear friend, Ginnie Kersey.

As we celebrate the 40th year of this committee, we will take time to honor and share the history, stories, and memories of Ginnie and her tireless advocacy for the balloon races, this committee, and the preservation of Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. We are deeply grateful for her vision and dedication. Her legacy will continue to live on through the scholarships this committee proudly provides each year.

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of longtime board member and friend, Virginia “Ginnie” Kersey.

Ginnie’s impact on The Great Reno Balloon Race spans decades. A board member since the late 1990s and a devoted sponsor, she was instrumental in bringing the University of Nevada, Reno on board as a founding sponsor of GRBR, working directly with then-President Joe Crowley to strengthen the event’s foundation and community partnerships. Her vision helped ensure the Balloon Race would remain a treasured Northern Nevada tradition.

A proud University of Nevada, Reno emerita, Ginnie retired in 1992 as a budget officer in the University’s Planning, Budget and Analysis Division. Her legacy of service, however, extended far beyond campus. She served two terms on the Washoe County Parks Commission, including two and a half years as chair, and held leadership roles on the Nevada State Parks Advisory Commission. Ginnie also played an instrumental role in the initial planning and master development of Rancho San Rafael Park, helping shape the very grounds where our balloons rise each September.

Her commitment to parks, trails, arts, recreation and nonprofit causes reflected a lifelong belief in public spaces, community access, and shared experiences. The beauty of Rancho San Rafael and the strength of The Great Reno Balloon Race are part of her lasting legacy.

We are profoundly grateful for the decades of leadership, wisdom and heart she shared with us. Her impact will continue to lift our community, just like the balloons she loved watching fill the Reno sky.

Please join us in keeping her family and loved ones in your thoughts.