Donations ensure Wallingford’s July Fourth fireworks

As published in the Record Journal Wednesday May 29, 2013

By Andrew Ragali
Record-Journal staff
aragali@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224
Twitter:@AndyRagz

WALLINGFORD — For the fourth consecutive year, fundraising has made the annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration possible.

The fireworks show is scheduled for July 6 at 9:15 p.m. Fireworks will be launched from the knoll by Moran Middle School and will be viewable from the grounds of Sheehan High School and Highland Elementary School.

In 2009, the mayor stopped including funds for fireworks show in the town budget. In response, Town Councilors Jason Zandri and Craig Fishbein formed the Wallingford Fireworks Fund, a nonprofit organization, to raise money for the event. Fishbein has since ended his participation with the group, but still advocates for the show. Zandri continues to work with a small group of volunteers that collected the approximately $30,000 that’s needed for the show.

The group began its fundraising effort in March, when Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. informed Zandri that the fireworks show would again be left out of the budget. Since then, the group has raised $29,548.

Zandri said a minimum of $24,000 is needed for the show. An additional $3,300 will be used for the R-Band, an orchestral group that will play music during the fireworks.

The expected $3,000 surplus will be set aside for next year’s show. Zandri, a Democrat who is running for mayor, said the money won’t be needed if he is elected because he would include funds for the fireworks show in the budget.

Town Council Vice Chairman Vincent Cervoni congratulated Zandri and his fellow fundraisers. “If people feel strongly about something, they will contribute to it,” Cervoni said.

Dickinson, a Republican who has yet to announce whether he will seek his 16th term as mayor, has said that budget issues are to blame for the absence of fireworks funding.

“I don’t dislike fireworks,” Dickinson said. “I think they’re fun, actually.”

Money received from the fireworks fund will be appropriated to various departments, Dickinson said. Costs for the event include $11,576 for the fireworks show, $10,900 for emergency services overtime, $180 for bathrooms, and $400 each for the services of the Public Works Department and the Board of Education.

About $3,500 was raised at a dinner last week. About $5,000 was raised while asking for donations at local businesses, including Dunkin’ Donuts and Stop & Shop. A $15,000 donation came from The Campus at Greenhill, a Wallingford office complex on Route 68 that’s run by Gale Development Services. The Campus at Greenhill also donated $15,000 last year. “They want to be a good community partner,” Zandri said.

Because of the donation, the event will be titled Campus at Greenhill 2013 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration.

Fishbein called the office complex a “great partner in raising money” for the event. The fireworks show “is always an event I’ve supported,” he said, adding that it’s “unfortunate the town doesn’t see fit to fund it.”

Fishbein said about 12,000 people show up for the show every year.

Zandri thanked his father, Geno Zandri, for countless hours of work collecting donations.

Fundraising on Friday April 27th for the Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Wallingford Fireworks Fund

Hey gang – we have a couple of volunteers that are again supposed to be at the Yalesville Dunkin Donuts from 2:30PM to around 5PM / 5:30PM or so; if you’re interested in supporting our cause please consider stopping by today.

There are just three days left now to the additional pledge to donate matching funds for all citizen / private donations for the month up to $5,000.00 made by Campus at Greenhill.

Last week, the week ending April 21st, we collected $938.00. That plus the prior two weeks of collections of $2,553.00 means we are sitting at $3,491.00.

With just the days remaining we really need to come in with that final $1,509.00 to get the full match of $5,000.00

We need additional help from people that can spend a couple of hours in the morning, or really any time, standing around collecting.

If you can help out please let me know.

Also – as was mentioned, if you were planning to make a donation, April is the month to do it as it is worth twice as much under the matching grant.

You can make your donations payable to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and mail them in to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net.

Fundraising on Thursday April 26th for the Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Wallingford Fireworks Fund

Hey gang – we have a couple of volunteers that are supposed to be at the Yalesville Dunkin Donuts from 2:30PM to around 5PM / 5:30PM or so; if you’re interested in supporting our cause please consider stopping by today.

There are just four days left to the additional pledge to donate matching funds for all citizen / private donations for the month up to $5,000.00 made by Campus at Greenhill.

Last week, the week ending April 21st, we collected $938.00. That plus the prior two weeks of collections of $2,553.00 means we are sitting at $3,491.00.

With just four days left we really need to come in with that final $1,509.00 to get the full match of $5,000.00

We need additional help from people that can spend a couple of hours in the morning, or really any time, standing around collecting.

If you can help out please let me know.

Also – if you were planning to make a donation, April is the month to do it as it is worth twice as much under the matching grant.

You can make your donations payable to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and mail them in to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net.

Collection totals for the week ending April 21st Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Wallingford Fireworks Fund

We have formally wrapped up week number three of the matching donation effort from the Campus at Greenhill and there are just six days remaining.

In March, Campus at Greenhill became the Fireworks Fund naming convention sponsor by making a $10,000.00 donation to the effort. 

In April, they have upped the ante by offering an additional pledge to donate matching funds for all citizen / private donations for the month up to $5,000.00 

Last week, the week ending April 21st, we collected $938.00. That plus the prior two weeks of collections of $2,553.00 means we are sitting at $3,491.00.

With just six days left we really need to come in with that final $1,509.00 to get the full match of $5,000.00

 

This last week of April is going to be tough; my father will be away for vacation at the end of the week; that leaves us with just me collecting on Saturday mornings.

I have had a couple people come forward to offer to assist later this week so I am hoping that with that support we can drag in the last of those donations for the full match.

We need additional help from people that can spend a couple of hours in the morning, or really any time, standing around collecting.

If you can help out please let me know. 

Also – if you were planning to make a donation, April is the month to do it as it is worth twice as much under the matching grant.

You can make your donations payable to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and mail them in to: 

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri 
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492 

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net.

Donation collecting for the Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Wallingford Fireworks Fund

Good morning everyone.

Today is Wednesday April 18 and my father and I will be collecting at the Dunkin Donuts on Route 5 (I will be at the South Colony location and Geno will be at the North Colony location across the street from the Shop Rite / Sears Hardware plaza) until around 9AM or so

Tomorrow (Thursday) we will be collecting at Yalesville Dunkin Donuts from 7AM to 9AM.

Friday April 20th we will be at Sonic of Wallingford on Route 5 from noon to about 4PM.

Saturday April 21st we will be collecting again at the Landfill and the Recycling Center.

Please consider supporting us – if you have the chance to swing by please do.

If you do not have the chance you can always send in your donation:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net.

If you’re going to consider supporting us now is the time – 12 days remain on the Campus at Greenhill citizen donation matching effort – they have made an additional pledge to donate matching funds for all citizen / private donations for the month up to $5,000.00

Thank you again for all the support – let’s make the 2012 event the best Wallingford has ever had!

Collections wrapping up for the Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Wallingford Fireworks Fund for the week ending April 7th.

PICTURED - Stephanie Clock Senior Administrator/Project Coordinator from Gale Development Services / Campus at Greenhill and her family along with Jason Zandri and three of his four children.

 

Collections wrapped up this morning (Saturday April 7, 2012) to top off the first full week of collecting as part of the matching donation effort from the Campus at Greenhill

In March, Campus at Greenhill became the Fireworks Fund naming convention sponsor by making a $10,000.00 donation to the effort.

In April, they have upped the ante by offering an additional pledge to donate matching funds for all citizen / private donations for the month up to $5,000.00

I don’t have all the donation counts in for the weekend yet as my Dad still has his money from collecting this week to get over to me but my best guess would be we collected close to $1,200.00 (which is effectively what we need to average each week to get the maximum amount from the pledge offered).

The last two weeks of April are going to be the toughest as my father will be away for vacation; that leaves us with just me collecting on Saturday mornings only for those two weekends.

We need additional help from people that can spend a couple of hours in the morning standing around collecting – especially during those two weeks.

If you can help out let me know.

Also – if you were planning to make a donation, April is the month to do it as it is worth twice as much under the matching grant.

You can make your donations payable to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and mail them in to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net.

Friday collections for the Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Wallingford Fireworks Fund

Hey gang – For today Friday April 6, 2012, my Dad will be collecting at the NORTH colony Dunkin Donuts and I will be at the one in Yalesville with Stephanie Clock and her family. Stephanie is a Senior Administrator/Project Coordinator for Gale Development Services, the group responsible for funding the Campus at Greenhill $10,000.00 donation. Please stop by and say hello and make your donation to the Fund.

Campus at Greenhill has also “upped the ante” by providing matching funds to all donations in April up to a total of $5,000.00 – every donation you make ends up being twice as much in April due to this so give generously and double your impact.

Also, later in the day on Friday from 2PM to about 6PM I will be collecting at the Wallingford Stop and Shop so if you miss us in the morning at Dunkin Donuts feel free to stop by in the afternoon and see me.

As always, you can make your donations payable to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and mail them in as well:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net. (Generally speaking, I can answer email faster than a phone call because of my work schedule)

Thursday and Friday morning collections for the Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Wallingford Fireworks Fund

Hey gang – I’ll have that big announcement I promised later today.

In the meantime, we are collecting this morning (Thursday April 5, 2012) at the SOUTH Colony Dunkin Donuts (my Dad is there) until about 9AM

Tomorrow, Friday April 6 he will be at the NORTH Colony Dunkin Donuts (near Shop Rite / Sears Hardware plaza) from about 7AM to about 9AM.

I will be over in Yalesville at the Dunkin Donuts on Main Street (Route 150) starting at 6:30AM. I am going to be there with my two older kids and with Stephanie Clock and her family. Stephanie is a Senior Administrator/Project Coordinator for Gale Development Services, the group responsible for funding the Campus at Greenhill $10,000.00 donation. Please stop by and say hello and make your donation to the Fund.

Donations this month will have an additional bang for their buck and I can let you know more about that later today.

Also, later in the day on Friday from 2PM to about 6PM I will be collecting at the Wallingford Stop and Shop so if you miss us in the morning at Dunkin Donuts feel free to stop by in the afternoon and see me.

As always, you can make your donations payable to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and mail them in as well:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net. (Generally speaking, I can answer email faster than a phone call because of my work schedule)

Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration fundraising committee meeting: Tuesday April 3, 2012

The Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration fundraising committee will meet on Tuesday April 3rd at 7:30PM at Gaetano’s in Wallingford.

The meeting is open to anyone that wishes to attend. You can come to observe or to find out how to informally help us out (one task, one off, etc.) or you can choose to join up and help us out regularly.

We are planning to discuss at the meeting our current collection levels for the fund as well as the announcement that is going to hit tomorrow (keep an eye on the blog) and how we are going leverage it over the next 30 days.

If you can come on Tuesday April 3rd at 7:30PM at Gaetano’s we’d love to have you join us for the brainstorming.

For those of you that cannot make the meeting but who may still want to help, we are still collecting at Dunkin Donuts in town and we need people to man the shifts.

My father and I are still out collecting each weekend; if you can stand out to collect all or part of the time on Thursday or Friday mornings at any of the Dunkin Donuts locations please let me know. We try to go for 6:30AM to 9:30AM but even if you can only take part of a shift that is better than nothing.

This upcoming weekend being a holiday weekend we are also going to be out at Stop and Shop on Friday afternoon – we received permission from them to stand from 2PM to 6PM so we can use a hand there as well.

As always, you can help out just by making a donation and / or by spreading the word to your friends and neighbors. Since 2010, the Wallingford Fireworks Celebration has been 100% funded by donations from everyday citizens of Wallingford – the only way it continues is with your backing, support and donations.

Your tax deductible donation can be sent to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net. (Generally speaking, I can answer email faster than a phone call because of my work schedule)

Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration: Cost estimates for the 2012 show

I had the chance to catch up with Comptroller Bowes before the Town Council meeting this week and I was able to get a better idea of the town services costs for the show. I had estimated them a little shy so they were about $400.00 in total more expensive than I was figuring:

Police Department Overtime      $8,000.00
Fire Department Overtime          $2,000.00
Fire Marshall Overtime                $   900.00
BoE reimbursement                    $   400.00
Recreation (Port o Lets)              $1,000.00
Public Works Overtime               $    350.00

Total                                             $12,650.00

The fireworks show itself is coming in at a grand total of $15,000.00 so the full cost that the fund has to bear before any other expenses (mailings, advertising, etc.) is $27,650.00

We are still working hard at trying to get additional major sponsors but in the meantime we are out getting ever dollar we can collecting at the Wallingford Dunkin Donuts locations.

It looks as if this Saturday morning is going to be a wash out with the weather so we’re probably at the end of the container collecting for this week but you can always mail your donation to us:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net. (Generally speaking, I can answer email faster than a phone call because of my work schedule).

We still have a ways to go to make our 2012 fundraising goal of $30,000.00 so we hope you consider pitching in to help save our grand celebration for the third year in a row.

Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration: We still need additional help with collecting donations.

My Father and I were out this past week collecting donations for the Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration. My Father was at Dunkin Donuts earlier in the week and I was working with him on Saturday (he was at the Landfill and I was at the Recycling Center).

We could still use some help; there are additional locations where we can stand and collect donations and we need more people to man them.

We are over half way to our goal in month one and that has NEVER happened in the two years prior that we have done this but we don’t want to rest on that fact; a spate of bad weather could cause us to miss our goals. With a major sponsor we cannot let that happen.

We could use more help during the weekday mornings if your work schedule allows; we like to try to fill the 6:30AM to 9:30AM shift at Dunkin Donuts on Wednesday, Thursday and / or Fridays but even if you can’t do the whole shift and hour or two is better than nothing.

Please let me know if you can help.

If you have other time to spare or want to help out in some other way please let me know as well.

We also could use some help with people soliciting businesses for sponsorships for the 2012 event and for advertising in the 2012 Program Guide so if “sales” is more your speed we could use your help there too.

As always, reminding your friends and neighbors about the fact that the Wallingford 4th of July Fireworks is fully funded by donations is always helpful too – especially all the folks in Yalesville whose 4th of July picnics are punctuated by the event.

Remind them to send in their donations:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net. (Generally speaking, I can answer email faster than a phone call because of my work schedule).

We still have a ways to go to make our 2012 fundraising goal of $30,000.00 so we hope you consider pitching in to help save our grand celebration for the third year in a row.

Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration collection totals for the week ending Saturday March 24, 2012; we now stand at $16,642.49

My Father and I were out this past week collecting donations for the Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration at the Wallingford Landfill and the Wallingford Recycling center (on Saturday). My Dad was able to get a couple days in earlier in the week at Dunkin Donuts

I have all the money counted from the weekend and a few checks that were mailed in all set for the deposit this morning.

With the $10,000.00 donation made by Gale Development through the Campus at Greenhill, our total for the 2012 celebration will stand at $16,642.49

If you want to send us your donation you can do so by sending it to:
Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net. (Generally speaking, I can answer email faster than a phone call because of my work schedule).

We still have a ways to go to make our 2012 fundraising goal of $30,000.00 so we hope you consider pitching in to help save our grand celebration for the third year in a row.

Wallingford Fireworks Fund: still collecting donations.

We are happy that we have gotten the formal sponsorship for the 2012 event but there is more to do to make the “Campus at Greenhill 2012 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration” a reality.

We will be collecting this weekend (my father and I) and we could use some help. If you’re not available this weekend but are around next week please let me know – we have locations, we need the bodies to stand and collect.

We try to get people for Thursday and Friday morning rush hour (6:30AM to 9:30AM) at the Dunkin Donuts franchises here in town that so graciously allow us to stand and collect for the show. If you can stand for just some of the period that is better than nothing – just contact me and let me know.

If you want to donate you can do so by sending your tax deductible donation to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net. (Generally speaking, I can answer email faster than a phone call because of my work schedule).

Wallingford Fireworks 2012 campaign: Week three collections net another $1,194.68; the 2012 campaign total stands at $4,567.07

Good morning everyone.

This week is going to be an exciting week for the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and all her supporters. Please keep an eye out on the blog this week for additional announcements.

Until then, totals are in from our week three collections are in and we collected an additional $1,194.68.

Our full 2012 campaign is to collect $30,000.00 before the Mayor’s deadline of 5PM on Friday May 25th 2012.

Our current totals for the event stand at $4,567.07 (oh for the want of an additional eighty two cents to make that a sequential total; had I known that was going to be the remaining balance ahead of time I would have thrown it in).

I am still waiting on Mr. Bowes, Wallingford’s Comptroller, to let me know what the costs to the town services are as that is the first of the totals we need to take care of before we can even consider paying for the fireworks themselves.
In 2011 those costs were:

Police Dept. Overtime $7,750.00
Fire Dept. Overtime $1,900.00
Port-o-lets $990.00
Fire Marshall $850.00
Public Works $330.00
Board of Ed $330.00

Town Services 2011 total $12,150.00

I am sure that amount is probably 2 to 5 percent higher this year so I am planning for about $13,000.00

So that is where we are right now.

Today is Tuesday the 20th and my father is supposed to be out at the Yalesville Dunkin Donuts on Main Street (Route 150) to collect for us. Stop by and see him.

I am working all this week in New York City (I am on the train as I write this) so I am unavailable to help until the weekend. Over the weekend we are again planning to be at the Wallingford Landfill and the Wallingford Recycling Center.

We are always looking for additional volunteers to stand out and collect donations.

We have slots available at the Dunkin Donuts here in town on most mornings. While we like to cover a full morning rush hour shift from 6:30AM to 9:30AM if all you have is an hour to spare and want to help we’ll take it.

We’ve also sent out the letters to all the donors from the past two years and we have gotten a few checks to date (they are already deposited and in our running total).

If you’re a newcomer and want to donate you can by sending your tax deductible donation to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net. (Generally speaking, I can answer email faster than a phone call because of my work schedule).

 

PLEASE – stay tuned this week for a major announcement here on the blog and I would expect in the Record Journal as well.

Wallingford Fireworks 2012 campaign: $1,171.00 collected. On to week three

Hi gang!

The totals are in from last week’s collections. After a rainy washout of week one, week two has delivered us $1,171.00.

Our full 2012 campaign is to collect $30,000.00

I am still waiting on Mr. Bowes, Wallingford’s Comptroller, to let me know what the costs to the town services are as that is the first of the totals we need to take care of before we can even consider paying for the fireworks themselves.

In 2011 those costs were:

Police Dept. Overtime    $7,750.00
Fire Dept. Overtime $1,900.00
Port-o-lets $990.00
Fire Marshall $850.00
Public Works $330.00
Board of Ed $330.00

Town Services 2011 total $12,150.00

I am sure that amount is probably 2 to 5 percent higher this year so I am planning for about $13,000.00

So that is where we are right now.

Tomorrow, Tuesday the 13th, my father is supposed to be out at the South Colony Dunkin Donuts to collect (weather permitting).

We’ve also sent out the letters to all the donors from the past two years; I am hoping the donation checks will start rolling in as well.

If you’re a newcomer and want to donate you can by sending your tax deductible donation to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net. (Generally speaking, I can answer email faster than a phone call because of my work schedule).

Wallingford Fireworks Fund: Collections for next week, the week of March 12th

I promise to get everyone an update over the weekend with how we made out with the fireworks collecting this weekend.

I just got back in from the Recycling Center; it was a slow morning as the compost / brush area is not yet open (I’ll try to get the dates for that as a number of people asked me about it).

I saw the Mayor there this morning – he waved as he drove by.

On Tuesday the 13th my father is going to collect at Dunkin Donuts (most likely on South Colony Road).

I have work this week so I am unable to do any collecting this week but I will be planning to be at the Recycling Center next Saturday.

We could use some volunteers for the following shifts; if you can only work part of a shift that is fine too – better someone for part of the time than no one for the whole period:

Thursday 3/15 from 6:30 to 9:30AM (or any part there of) at Dunkin Donuts.
Friday 3/16 from 6:30 to 9:30AM (or any part there of) at Dunkin Donuts.
We could take some Dunkin Donuts slots on Saturday if we can get the help.

If you have the time and the interest in helping us reach our goal before the 25th of May (the deadline the Mayor has set to have the funds in to the town) please contact me directly to let me know:

860 641 6069 or Jason@Zandri.net (email is best).

Thanks

Wallingford Collections at Dunkin Donuts, Landfill and the Recycling Center for Saturday March 10

Hey gang, I am headed out the door right now to stand for about an hour and a half at Dunkin on North Colony.

From there (after 8AM) I will be at the Recycling Center to about noon

My father will be at the landfill from 8AM to about noon.

I hope you can come by and make a donation to give us a good push to the weekend collections.

If not you can also send in any donations that you might like to make.

Please make checks out to: “Wallingford Fireworks Fund” and send to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net. (Generally speaking, I can answer email faster than a phone call because of my work schedule).

Week Two Collections at Dunkin Donuts are off and running

My father (Geno Zandri) and I have been collecting the past couple of days at the Dunkin Donuts in town; yesterday and today he was at the one on South Colony Road and I was at Yalesville yesterday and at North Colony today. (What a difference a day makes in temperature!)

Tomorrow – Saturday the 10th Geno will be at the landfill from 8 to about noon and I will be at the Recycling Center. If you want to make a donation please come by and see us.

You can also send in any donations that you might like to make.

Please make checks out to: “Wallingford Fireworks Fund” and send to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

As always, if anyone has any questions of me please feel free to reach out by calling 860 614 6069 or via email at Jason@Zandri.net. (Generally speaking, I can answer email faster than a phone call because of my work schedule).

Ultimate fundraising goal of $30,000.00 means $10,000.00 needed for the end of March

With an ultimate fundraising goal of $30,000.00 for the 2012 celebration and 12 weeks to go we need to fund raise, on average, $2,500.00 each week.

Our end of March target, based on this, is $10,000.00

Let’s see how well we do as we begin our fundraising at Dunkin Donuts this week (looks like there will be no foul weather washout this week like we had last week). We are planning to stand out Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings at the Dunkin locations in Wallingford.

At this point it is just my father and myself signed up for this (I’ve taken a couple days off from work to do this). We need some more help with collections as well as other fundraising events. If you’d like to help please get in touch with me and let me know.

Additionally, if you would like to make out a check and send it to us here is all you need to do:

Make an outright donation by sending in a check to

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

Stay tuned to the blog – there’s much more to come and we will be keeping you up to date right here.

Bad weather hampers fireworks collection efforts in Wallingford

Well gang – it wasn’t the kind of weekend I was hoping for.

With the cold and the rain over Thursday, Friday and Saturday no collections were done for the fireworks at the Wallingford Dunkin Donuts.

We’re going to try again this week. I believe my father is going to be at North Colony on Tuesday and South Colony on Thursday. I have Thursday and Friday off from work this week so I am going to try Main Street in Yalesville both mornings and the Recycling Center on Saturday (again – weather permitting).

We did receive one check in the mail, a $100.00 donation from my mother (thanks Mom) but other than that we made little progress on fundraising other than making some plans for upcoming events for April and May.

The monies need for this year are estimated at $30,000.00 – I am still waiting on quotes from some of the remaining fireworks vendors. The ones I have seen are coming in around $14,000.00 to $16,000.00. (Wallingford Parks and Recreation has been getting quotes sent directly to them so there may be more I am unaware of).

Those costs coupled with the town services – overtime for the police, fire, public works, etc which are expected to come in around $14,000.00 means we need to raise $30,000.00 to have the show this year.

There are 12 weeks left – we need to average $2,500.00 a week to make that happen. It’s uphill the whole way.

I spoke with the Mayor already – there will be no help from the town at all.

So for the third year in a row it is up to the townspeople, their generosity, and the same of local businesses whether this decades old tradition stays on or not.

Time will tell. We’re in it until the Mayor’s deadline of Friday May 25, 2012 to get the monies in.