PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend Sunrise Rotary Club, which has sponsored the city’s big Fourth of July fireworks display for the past nine years, is warning that the 2010 spectacular at Fort Worden State Park is at risk.
“Our fundraising has always fallen short,” said the club’s board in a statement, “but this year, with the economy in such bad shape, it’s been especially difficult for our club to raise fireworks money.”
The statement added that “unless we can get the public to help financially support this year’s fireworks, we will have no choice but to discontinue sponsoring it, as difficult and painful as that is for us to do.”
Next year’s fireworks display is endangered, not this year’s, said Bill Mann, a club spokesman.
“This year we’ll do the show, but if we don’t raise enough money, we’ll be too far in the hole to consider doing it again.”
The Sunrise Rotary Club would continue to sponsor other community projects, he said. The Fourth of July fireworks display has been the club’s biggest financial commitment.
The club will start selling $5 PT Fireworks pins this weekend at local stores to help fund the event.
Checks in any amount to help pay for the fireworks show can be mailed to PT Sunrise Rotary, P.O. Box 1474, Port Townsend, WA 98368.
