“Save the Fireworks”: Pledge drive raises almost $450,000 in a day

| Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

One day after the announcement that Seattle was likely to go without a major fireworks display this 4th of July, a pledge drive rocketed to life – spearheaded by celebrity chef Tom Douglas and KIRO Radio talk-show host Dave Ross. Businesses were invited to chip in, in increments of $1,000 (Douglas and Ross kicked it off with $5,000 and $1,000 respectively). We can’t bear the thought of fireworkslessness on the 4th, so WSB threw in for the minimum. (So did our friends who run neighborhood-news sites in North Seattle, Next Door Media.) And more than 80 other Seattle businesses have chipped in so far, according to the running list on KIRO Radio’s website – but the big mo came late in the day, when Starbucks and Microsoft announced they will contribute $125,000 each, if the donations from the rest of the business community total at least $250,000. As of right now, according to the progress bar on this webpage, there’s only a little more than $50,000 to go. (Want to pledge? Scroll down this page.)

familyfourth April 1, 2010 (10:29 pm)

Good job that is AWESOME!

d April 1, 2010 (10:51 pm)

YAY!

Ed Schramm April 2, 2010 (7:53 am)

That’s really great, since my family reserves a couple picnic tables at Alki each year and stays late to watch the show. HOWEVER, knowing that it costs 1/2 million dollars to pout on the 15 minute show, you wonder if money like that could be used for ……and just this one year lets say…..feeding hungry people, making schools better, cleaning up every park in the city……you get my drift.

RobertSeattle April 2, 2010 (7:56 am)

This is a Lake Union show though correct? Can someone move that Space Needle thing out of the way?

WSB April 2, 2010 (8:12 am)

Robert, yes, it’s Lake Union. Last year I was skeptical we would see much from here – with vague memories of seeing the Lake U fireworks “behind” the Elliott Bay show – but I was surprised at just how visible it was.

bsmomma April 2, 2010 (8:36 am)

Taking away the fireworks on the 4th would be like no Turkey on Thanksgiving or no trick-or-treating on Halloween! It’s a tradition. Yes, it costs’ money and some may see it as a waste of money and could be spent better else where. I think as a community (residential & business) we do alot of things to help the world. And we should be proud of what we do. I say be thankful that this American tradion is staying alive! The USA has already been altered enough by other events. We should be able to celebrate! I’ll appreciate the celebration ALOT more this year than any other year!

Gill April 2, 2010 (9:27 am)

It’s a done deal! Nice job Seattle.

Kayleigh April 2, 2010 (11:11 am)

Ed, ya party pooper, don’tcha know, “community service” now includes “supporting stuff I personally use, like, and benefit from directly.” ;-)

sam April 2, 2010 (11:23 am)

‘pout on the 15 minute show’

you started early with the pouting!
;)

holden April 2, 2010 (9:17 pm)

The lake union show is actually more than 20 minutes long, 1200′ high, synched to a soundtrack, and one of the top 5 rated displays in the country, according to american pyrotechnic engineers. It’s pretty kick-ass world-class.

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