Now that La Jolla’s Fourth of July fireworks display has been saved, the next task is to establish a permanent legal “entity” to perpetuate fundraising for the homegrown community event.
“We would like to thank everyone for their interest and commitment to the continuation of this great tradition,” said Deborah Marengo in a letter to donors who anted up in excess of the $27,000 needed to stage the Independence Day display. “During fundraising, we met with many of the contributors and heard that it was important to them that our efforts remain an independent community effort. We will be forming a nonprofit solely for the continuation of the fireworks display on the Fourth of July.”
One of the more than 100 contributors was the La Jolla Cove Suites Hotel. Chief Executive Officer Krista Baroudi said: “My children have grown up watching these fireworks and we’ve had ringside seats. I can’t think of any other place where you can feel so within the fireworks show.”
Calling the Fourth of July “a very important day for the community,” she added: “I just couldn’t imagine it going away. I’m just thrilled we were able to pull it off. It really gave you the feeling that the community came together on something they were passionate about.”
The list of major contributors includes Calacles Consulting, Dave and Debbie Benson, Irving Hughes, La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club, La Valencia Hotel, La Jolla Cove Suites Hotel, Marengo Morton Architects, Pasquale on Prospect, The Grand Colonial Hotel and The Steakhouse at Azul. Click
here
to see full list.Baroudi said she, Marengo and Adam Harris, who spearheaded the successful Internet fundraising drive, are meeting to plan the future of community fireworks displays.
“We’ve already had discussion on forming a committee and maintaining the fireworks for coming years,” she said, adding that those plans might include expanding upon and improving the event by adding live entertainment.
“Many years ago, we had the Marine Corps Band in the park, and they played from late afternoon right into those first (fireworks) blasts,” Baroudi said. “It was an amazing transition to have patriotic music going into the spectacular fireworks display.”
Baroudi said she and Marengo have talked about making fireworks a full-day event. “We’ll see how easy it is to do that,” she said. “We’re just excited at the prospect of being able to help out on such an amazing day.”
Harris said he and Marengo are still busy doing a final accounting of the fundraising, with donations continuing to trickle in.
He added fundraising principals and restaurateur George Hauer who hd co-hosted the event the past 24 years along with First Republic Bank, are meeting to “plan from this point forward. What we would like to do is form a nonprofit, have a more formalized effort to do the planning for the event.”
Hauer said he’s been busy since last week’s announcement that fireworks have been resuscitated doing the legwork - getting signs for street closing, arranging for Port-a-Potties, hiring a security company, getting insurance coverage, etc. - to stage the event.
LA JOLLA FIREWORKS FOUNDATION
Donor / Sponsor
Calacles L.L.C.La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club
La Jolla Cove Suites
La Valencia Hotel
Marengo Morton Architects
Pasquale On Prospect
Scott Peters/Lynn Gorguze
The Grand Colonial Hotel
The Steakhous At Azul
Alfonso
Alice Marie Young
Andrea Dahlberg
Andrew Griswold
Andrew Jabro
Angela Preisendorfer
Avalon Ventures
Barbarella
Bo Hedfors
Bt Hermann
Brockton Villa
Cambria Benson
Capistrano Surf And Sport
Carolyn And Ed Perrish
Charles Craig
Charles Osgood
Chip Rome
Christina Orciuoli
Courtney Coyle
D & C Ware
Dan Linn
David Hewitt
Debbie Beacham
Edward Dennis
Elizabeth Gaenzle
Elizabeth Klene
Elliot Feuerstein
Eyestructure
First Business Bank
First Republic Bank
Gail Forbes
Gayle Tauber
Gigi King Fargo
Goldfish Point
Grace Davila
Harris Family
Harry Cooper
Jacqueline Bell
Jake Armstrong
Jeff R. Quint
Jennifer Edstrom
Jennifer Wahl Wahl
Jennifer Wahl Wahl
Jim Heaton
Jim Heaton
Jim Walker
John And Nonnie Barbey
John Tolerico
John Walsh
Johnnie Muster
Joseph Lacava
Karen, Stanley Seat
Kathleen Cueva
Keitha Giannella
Kenneth Kalunian
Kirjah Amantea
Kiwanis
La Jolla Financial Building
La Jolla Light
Lance Pelky
Lanette Palladino-Lane
Laura D Conboy
Linda Strauss
Lj Town Council
Martha Sottosanti
Martin Lawrence Gallery
Mary Coakley
Matthew Peterson
Maureen Keiffer
Maxine Gellens
Michelle Flores
Molly Bowman
Murray Rome
Nancy Hagan
Nicole Goedhart
P.E. Rahman
Pam Muster
Patricia/Dave Marino/Irving
Patrick Eggen
Paul Leonhardt
Peter And Judy Corrente
Peter Gotfredson
Peter Venieris
Pomergrante
Richard Wildman
Richard Wildman
Robert Flynn
Robin Corson
Sally And Dave Miller
Sara Hill
Sara Thomas
Sheila Alberts
Sheryl Deronde
Simon Andrews
Stephen Wilson
Susan Beach
Susan Harris
Susan Hart Henegar
Susan Wiczynski
Tim Nelson
Toby Eisenberg
Tracy Hagan
Trattoria Aqua
Tondro-Mccorkle Group
Ure Kretowicz
Warren Beckwith
Warwicks
William Harris
William Ohara
Willis Allen
