Final figures from the New Canaan Family Fourth show a year-over-year increase of $20,000 in revenue—a figure that covers losses from the prior year and puts the volunteer-run event on solid footing, officials say.
Grabbing a piece of the lawn at the New Canaan Family Fourth 2015 at Waveny. Credit: Michael Dinan
Anchored by the Waveny fireworks, the popular gathering garnered around $75,000, according to Tom Stadler, who serves as chairman of the Family Fourth Committee.
A combination of rising costs the prior year—due mainly to police seeking straight pay instead of a comp day in 2014 (an $18,000 cost)—and a drop in family passes, had put the Family Fourth fund in a precarious state, prompting Stadler and the committee to push for greater community support.
The Blackwell family—Rhonda, Andrew and Houston—having a great time at the New Canaan Family Fourth 2015 at Waveny. Credit: Michael Dinan
This year, Stadler said, all but three police opted to “bank” the day, which helped control costs, and greater numbers of residents seem to have purchased passes at $35—up from $30, Stadler said.
“Right now I feel very good about [the health of the fund],” Stadler said. “We in effect wiped out the loss from last year.”
“The big questions going forward are: Can we sustain what we did this year, and what will the costs be? And I have said all along that if we keep on this track, I can improve the show. Which is already pretty good doggone show.”
The committee met Thursday night.
Other keys to the bottom line include streamlining costs and garnering support in ticket sales, such as New Canaan’s Walter Stewart’s Market, running digital rather than print advertising, bringing in tattooists rather than face-painters, re-working a mailing campaign and controlling energy costs, Stadler said.