by Mary Lou Coady, for Prairie Meadows

Altoona, IA — Prairie Meadows and the Polk County Board of Supervisors have announced that legendary rock group REO Speedwagon, with special guest The Little River Band, have been selected to perform at the “Ridin’ the Storm Out Floods of 2008 Relief Concert” to be held outdoors at Prairie Meadows on Wednesday, July 16. Another band, yet to be announced, is expected to open this show for adults age 21 or older.

The doors open that evening at 4:30 p.m. and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to flood victims. The opening act is slated to start at 5:00 p.m., followed by The Little River Band at 6:15 p.m. and REO Speedwagon at 7:45 p.m.

The ticket price is $20 and will go on sale to the public on Wednesday, July 2, at 10:00 a.m. Tickets are available in person at the Meadows Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster Express at (866) 448-7849, Ticketmaster Charge-By-Phone in Des Moines at (515) 243-1888, or online at www.Ticketmaster.com. In support of this benefit, Ticketmaster has agreed to waive all convenience and handling fees.

Prairie Meadows has underwritten the entire cost of this concert, which includes all ticket sales and revenue from a silent auction to be held that evening. Corporate and media organizations voicing support for this endeavor have been increasing by the hour. A Web site linked to Prairie Meadows detailing additional information and funding opportunities is expected to be up and running on or around July 1.

“At Prairie Meadows, we want to do our part to assist central Iowans affected by this year’s massive flooding,” says Prairie Meadows CEO Gary Palmer, “and we are very pleased, in the spirit of working closely with Polk County, that Polk County has agreed to match, dollar-for-dollar, all revenue Prairie Meadows takes in for this concert.”

“The Board of Supervisors is pleased to join our community partner Prairie Meadows in establishing this fundraiser to assist our Polk County citizens who have been devastated by the recent floods,” stated Chair John F. Mauro.

All checks should be made payable to “2008 Flood Relief and Recovery Fund” and mailed to the Prairie Meadows Accounting Department, P.O. Box 1000, Altoona, Iowa 50009-0901. Monetary donations may also be deposited in any of the flood relief barrels placed throughout the Prairie Meadows facility through July 16.

Prairie Meadows will deliver the donations to The Greater Des Moines Community Foundation, which has volunteered to act as a conduit in distributing the donated funding directly to Polk County for the flood victims.