Spirit of the Fourth

By: Elizabeth Marie Himchak

Courtesy of the Rancho Bernardo News Journal and Pomerado Publishing

July 4th Parade in Rancho Bernardo

Spirit of the Fourth volunteers will start soliciting donations this month for the 40th annual Independence Day celebration in Rancho Bernardo.

Some of the money will be raised through event sponsorships, a tactic being employed for the first time, said Kimberly Bianco, Spirit of the Fourth spokeswoman.

Sponsors of the daytime activities in Webb Park, the parade or the evening fireworks show will receive several benefits, including a banner in the parade, invitations to VIP activities and name exposure before, during and after the celebration.

Sponsorship prices have yet to be announced — Bianco said they might start at $1,000. Benefits are valued at $2,500, $3,500 and $5,000.

A less pricey donation opportunity — one sure to get Old Glory waved along the parade route — is the new “Five for the Fourth” campaign.

Starting in March and continuing through July 4, locals will be able to receive a small American flag for donating $5 toward the festivities. They will be encouraged to wave their flags during events.

In addition to these new fundraising tactics, money will be raised through the Freedom Club (which offers special perks for those who donate at least $100), a solicitation letter that will be sent to residents this spring and through program advertisement sales.

Ad sales are designed to cover the costs of producing the program, which is distributed to about 20,000 Rancho Bernardo and Poway homes to promote the event, according to Marty Judge, who is in charge of the program.

Bianco said the 29-member committee is also considering ways to increase interest in the event — and to mark its 40th anniversary — perhaps through a 5K run or by having local restaurants sell food from booths in Webb Park.

“We’re trying to keep people in the park,” she said.

A budget for this year’s festivities is not yet available, but last year the event cost about $71,000. A third of that was funded through the Freedom Club ($23,000), with grants accounting for another $27,500 of the budget.

Grant contributors were County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price (her district contributed $15,000), City Councilman Brian Maienschein ($5,000 of city funds), the Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club and foundation ($5,000) and Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation ($2,500).