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Groton Non-profit Partners with Leading Fireworks Company to Give Back
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Groton Non-profit Partners with Leading Fireworks Company to Give Back
– Fundraising relationship supports organization's mission while ensuring New London County 's Independence Day celebrations sparkle and glow –
Groton, Ct. (April 24, 2009) – In a harsh economic climate, one local church plans on creatively addressing its fundraising needs this year by joining forces with a leading fireworks manufacturer to sell sparklers and fountains on Independence Day. Pleasant Valley Community of Prayer and Praise, now in its fifth year of a fundraising partnership with TNT Fireworks ®, will join over 5,000 organizations nationwide – many in Connecticut – who share tent-sales profits with TNT in an effort to support each charity's mission, while ensuring local residents have no shortage of sparklers and fountains to colorfully ignite their patriotic celebrations.
Pleasant Valley Community of Prayer and Praise relies on every dollar raised by its annual sparkler and fountain sales campaign to keep its various outreach programs afloat. The organization conducts charitable efforts that support a local drug and alcohol rehabilitation program, assists the church-grown homeless ministry, Malta Inc., and addresses the needs of women who need financial and emotional counseling in New London County . The sparkler and fountain raised funds also cushion the costs of taking the organization's mission to a global audience.
When asked how big of a role TNT fundraising plays in his group's missions efforts worldwide, Jim Smith, Associate Pastor of Youth Ministry of Pleasant Valley Community Church, which plans to operate a TNT store in North Stonington, CT, said, "It's about 99% of my fundraising … every two years we do an international mission trip, so from year-to-year we save the funds … and use them to support our kids trips, based on how much they work at the fireworks store."
TNT has helped meet the needs of cash-strapped groups for several years by deploying a model whereby the nation's largest distributor of consumer sparklers shares tent-sales profits with groups who employ and operate TNT stands and tents across the country, raising over 20 million dollars annually. The fundraising relationship TNT develops with its partner organizations benefits each party involved in different ways, but the end result is shared – by selling consumer sparklers, our country's non-profit organizations, such as Pleasant Valley Community of Prayer and Praise, can continue meeting the critical needs of their audiences.
"From building projects to international humanitarian relief efforts and after-school youth programs, our fundraising partners make enormous contributions to the communities they are a part of," says Tommy Glasgow, president of TNT Fireworks East. "By partnering with our company in Connecticut , these groups have access to the resources needed to make profound differences in the lives of the citizens of their respective communities, while helping create sparkling memories for years to come."
Not only does TNT generously share its fundraising profits with partner organizations, while imparting valuable lessons to youth who get involved in the fundraising campaigns, the company also conducts much of the preliminary work involved in setting up the tent at each location, lessening the labor-intensive burden on small groups like Mr. Smith's.
Indeed, just before the 4 th of July, TNT ensures its partners are well taken care of before the first product is sold each holiday season. A critical part of this process is TNT University – a learning session that educates each school, civic or church organization on everything their members need to know to run a successful sparklers retail campaign.
While partnering with TNT to sell sparklers and fountain contributes significantly to its partners' bottom lines and organizational success, the simple pleasure of helping Americans enjoy our country's longstanding traditions also adds value to the fundraising experience.
"Our relationship with Pleasant Valley Community of Prayer and Praise is very instrumental in helping New London County residents enjoy sparklers and fountains on Independence Day, while also giving back to its community at the same time," said Glasgow . "We encourage Connecticut charities of all size and scope to join with us to help make this patriotic holiday the most enjoyable – and profitable – yet for the audiences they serve.
For more information or to register an organization to participate in a 2009 TNT fundraiser, visit www.tntfireworks.com, or call (256) 764-6131.
ABOUT TNT FIREWORKS
TNT ® Fireworks (TNT) is the nation's largest distributor of consumer fireworks and novelty items. For more than 50 years, TNT has set the benchmark for safety, customer satisfaction, innovation and quality in the fireworks industry. For more information about TNT Fireworks, visit www.tntfireworks.com.