Released: October 8, 2008

A team of 20 employees from the Department of Insurance participated in the First Annual Plane Pull Festival on Saturday, October 4, at the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport. The festival benefited The ARC Baton Rouge, whose mission is to improve the quality of life for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families through advocacy, services and support.

“It is great to see our employees volunteer in the community to help such a worthy cause,” said Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon.

Each team had to pull a 727 FedEx Jet, weighing 150,000 pounds, a distance of 12 feet. The DOI team accomplished the feat in 7.104 seconds. A team from McDonalds, who clocked in at 5.75 seconds, won the competition.

Through fundraising efforts, the Department of Insurance raised almost $1500 for The ARC Baton Rouge. One hundred percent of proceeds from the Plane Pull Festival benefit the programs of The ARC Baton Rouge, including the Inclusive Recreation Program and the ARC Early Head Start and Child Care Center. For more information on The ARC Baton Rouge, please visit www.arcbatonrouge.org.

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