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SALT LAKE CITY -- What would the Fourth of July be without fireworks? For years, thousands have flocked to Sugarhouse Park for their annual display, but last year the city announced it was canceling it.
The community has really gotten behind this. It's just been amazing.
–Scott Workman, Sugarhouse fireworks show organizer
One Sugar House resident, however, wasn't going to let the tradition die. Tuesday, Scott Workman met his fundraising goal, and the show is back on.
One look at Workman's office and you know, for him, the Fourth of July is more than just another holiday.
"It's just an amazing country that we live in," Workman says.
For the past 22 years, Workman and his family have watched the fireworks at Sugarhouse Park, but last year he learned the city had canceled the annual show.
"The budget was cut, and also some of the services that used to be donated -- such as the police department -- they are now charging," Workman says.
The thought of Independence Day with an empty Sugarhouse Park was unacceptable for Workman. He contacted city administrators, who told him they supported him raising the money; but it costs more than pocket change to put on the show: $55,000 to be exact.
Workman started brainstorming and turned to local businesses for help. Jamba Juice, for example, jumped on board and started selling buttons for $1 each, with all of the proceeds going toward the firework show.
"In the last week, we've sold 1,200 buttons," says Eric Heaston, general manager at the Sugar House Jamba Juice location. "The entire city of Salt Lake loves to go to the fireworks; they have approximately 3,500 people who travel to Sugarhouse Park to see the fireworks. It's something that we really wanted to make sure happened."
Customers who buy one of the buttons are given a discount, and Jamba is also donating 15 percent of their sales for one day to the cause. The city pitched in $15,000, and Workman says he gets donations in the mail nearly every day.
Tuesday, he reached his goal of $55,000. The Sugarhouse Park fireworks show will go on.
"The community has really gotten behind this. It's just been amazing," Workman says.
Workman is still trying to raise additional money to pay for entertainment during the show, and any money received over and above those costs will roll over to pay for next year's display.
CLICK HERE for more information on how you can donate to the Fourth of July show.
E-mail: jstagg@ksl.com
