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Oakwood Non–profit Partners with Leading Fireworks Company to Give Back
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Oakwood Non-profit Partners with Leading Fireworks Company to Give Back
– Fundraising relationship supports charity's mission while ensuring Hall County 's Independence Day celebrations sparkle and glow –
Oakwood, Ga. (March 25, 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 non-aerial items on Independence Day. First Pentecostal Church of Oakwood, now in its third year of a fundraising with TNT Fireworks ®, will join over 5,000 organizations nationwide – many in the Peach State – 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 non-aerial items to colorfully ignite their patriotic celebrations.
First Pentecostal Church Oakwood, or perhaps better known as Oakwood UPC, relies on every dollar raised by its annual sparkler sales campaign to keep its various outreach programs afloat. The organization which provides near daily support and encouragement for Hall County 's elderly and sick populations, is trying to get a long-envisioned prison ministry started and, unfortunately, recently had to axe its food bank program due to funding shortfalls.
Without the support of its fundraising with TNT, paying off the church's various debts – such as a bank note for a much-needed bus – would also be very difficult, according to A.B. Stewart, Pastor of Oakwood UPC, which plans to operate a tent in front of Oakwood's Wal-Mart.
"It (a TNT fundraiser) really helped us get over the hump last year. We were several thousand dollars in the hole and it helped us get out … it was a tremendous blessing," said Stewart. "Because of the economy and related set-backs, (the fundraiser) was really a God-send to help us pay our bills."
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 Oakwood UPC, 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 Georgia , 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 us", Mr. Stewart added.
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 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 Oakwood UPC is very instrumental in helping Hall County residents enjoy sparklers on Independence Day, while also giving back to its community at the same time," said Glasgow . "We encourage Georgia 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.