Lopez Community Fireworks, Inc.

Lopez Island Community Fireworks has been operating for over 30 years to create and display the Fourth Of July Fireworks Show.  Originally authorized as part of Lopez’s American Legion, we gained our own status as an IRS 501 (c) 3 Corporation in 2004 per the attached letter.

It was a simpler process and a great show to begin with, with donations of $9743 and expenses of $4672 in 1987.  It sure is more complicated and costly these days. The steep increases are attributed to no shows for a couple of years due to the pandemic as well as the increase of insurance costs and transportation of materials.   In the upcoming year we will need to purchase our firework materials for future shows. We have used up much of the inventory on hand to keep the costs low last year. We build our own fireworks with our team of volunteers. Our volunteers spend almost 2 weeks physically building and creating our display.  In 2024 and 2025, we anticipate having to spend dramatically more than ever before.  There are the ongoing expenses for equipment upgrades and repairs, having to deal with more regulations and safety systems plus raw materials have multiplied their costs for more advanced pyrotechnic displays.

We continue to rely 100% on community support and literally hundreds of individuals send in what they can as donations, buying our shirts, and attending our popular dinner-auction fundraisers.  And still we are challenged to meet our expenses.

Some of our local costs include:  all our permits, printing (Paper Scissors), advertising (Sounder), fundraising costs such as venue, food, drink, invitations, décor; and working space rental (Lopez Sand & Gravel).  None of our volunteer participants and board members have ever been paid for their time.

Local benefits include the fact that this major 4th of July event draws thousands of visitors who spend in our community, allowing a wide variety of tourism business income and employment in our locale.

We humbly ask for your donation. 

Board members – Kai Burleson, John Moore, Samantha Olson, Helen Cosgrove, Brian Duncan, Tim Jacobs, and Jim Ghiglione.