A nonprofit organization is seeking funds for Blair's Fourth of July fireworks display, which will take place Sunday on the former Dana College campus.
Blair Celebrations has set its goal at $7,500. Letters have been sent to businesses and donation canisters have been placed at Taylor Quik Pik in Blair and Fort Calhoun, the Blair Meat Market and both Petro Marts.
Checks can be mailed or dropped off at the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. Online donations may be made though the Washington County Community Foundation's website, washcocommfoundation.org/make-a-donation, by choosing “Blair Celebrations.”
The City of Blair also contributes funds to the fundraising effort.
Adrienne Starks, a Blair Celebrations board member, said the group is also hoping to get other organizations involved in the event. Starks' church, Living Hope Blair, plans to give away free popsicles and water.
“We are wanting other community groups and organizations, whether it be churches or other groups, to contact us if they would want to sponsor other activity booths like face painting or any other types of activities for kids, little game booths and things like that,” she said.
Those who want to get involved should email Blaircelebrations@mail.com or call 402-936-5502.
Starks said the intent is to grow the event into a bigger celebration.
“More than just fireworks is the hope,” she said.
Blair's Fourth of July celebration was started nearly 25 years ago by Don Beck, a volunteer with the Blair Fire Department. Beck started the fundraising effort and got the department involved.
“He loved this town, he loved fireworks,” Beck's daughter, Jennifer Reyzlik, said. “He just wanted to have an awesome show for Blair so he always made sure to get it talked up. He'd start months in advance of just trying to get people aware that it was coming up, raise donations.
Blair resident Tim Gross helped Beck with the fundraising efforts for many years.
“Few people could ever tell (my dad) no just because he was a nice social guy,” Reyzlik said.
Beck worked with a South Dakota fireworks company for the show before transitioning to Midwest Fireworks Wholesalers in Blair.
Reyzlik said the celebration was “a big passion for him. He wanted Blair to have the best show.”
“He always had dreams of it getting bigger and bigger and turning into a full day festival where you'd have food trucks or people would come with their blankets and have picnics,” she said.
