Friday Fireworks to Raise Money for County Schools

Last year, the fundraiser fireworks show put on by the Monte Foundation shifted days and scaled down hours. This year, in a move back to their roots, organizers say they cut live music and the designated children’s area—the focus is on the fireworks show itself. That show will go on, rain or shine, Friday night at Seacliff State Beach.

“The pyrotechnists say the fireworks look really cool in the rain,” Monte Foundation executive director Kim Gallick said.

A non-profit group, the Rudolf F. Monte Foundation raises money for school groups and other non-profit organizations dedicated to serving Santa Cruz County’s youth. For the 17th year in a row, the foundation will put on a fireworks show over the Monterey Bay to help further that mission. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the event runs until 10 p.m.

The Monte Foundation, and the groups and schools benefiting from the show, make money through ticket sales. Adult tickets are $10 and are still available at the gate. But the main source for ticket revenue does not come from walkup sales. Organizations interested in raising money through the event checkout tickets from the foundation and then get out and make sales. The more they sell the more they make for their organizations. Seventy percent of each sale goes to the group selling the ticket and the remaining 30 percent comes back to the Monte Foundation to cover event costs.

“We’re just trying to help schools help themselves. It’s an avenue where they can participate but they do all the work,” Gallick said. “They sell the tickets and earn cash that way.”

Over 90 groups sold tickets to this year’s event. In Watsonville, and participated, while Harbor High School’s water polo team and the boys basketball team from Scotts Valley High School turned in one of the best performances so far this year at over 300 tickets sold for each organization.

Those tickets will contribute to attempts to reverse the current downward trend in the event’s revenue. After raising over $250,000 dollars for schools and youth organizations in both 2007 and 2008, the last two years saw a decline. According to Gallick, 2009 brought in $173,909 and the foundation donated an additional $26,630 in scholarships. Last year, the first year the event moved from Saturday to Friday and ran shorter, $107, 741 was raised and the foundation gave away scholarships totaling $15,490.

The reduced funds generated come during a time when Gallick feels schools' need for outside money continues to increase. In her 13 years working with the Monte Foundation, she says there has been a shift in what people are fundraising for.

“It used be that it was for extras. Now it’s teachers and it’s paper and pencils. It’s totally different,” Gallick said.

With that need, the foundation plans to keep going as long as it can draw the Santa Cruz County community to the beach for a night of fireworks.

“As long as we have people coming and supporting the foundation it’ll keep going,” Gallick said.

The 17th Annual Monte Foundation Firework Extravaganza is Friday, Oct. 7 from 5-10 p.m. at Seacliff State Beach. Admission is $10 and includes one raffle ticket. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or through one of the schools or youth organizations participating. For more information, visit www.monte-foundation.com.