Get the biggest bang for your buck

Great things rarely happen by accident.

In fact, sometimes there’s a heck of a lot of hard work that goes into something we might typically take for granted.

Coeur d’Alene’s spectacular Fourth of July fireworks display on the lake is one of them.

Many, many hours of planning and fundraising are needed every year for the city’s parade and fireworks show. The Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce does all that heavy lifting, with help from some of our community’s most generous donors of labor and cold cash.

One of the things we greatly appreciate is that the Chamber resists any temptation to hard-sell the community. They understand that the fireworks display is one of the highlights of summer in North Idaho, and that businesses and individuals alike will step up and contribute to ensure that, year after year, the show will go on. It’s our job to remind citizens that freedom isn’t free — and neither are expensive, exuberant exclamations of that freedom.

To put your fingerprints on some of those skyward missiles and thunderous explosions, here’s what businesses should do. Call Diane Higdem at the Chamber — 292-1635 — or email her: [email protected]

For your donation of $500-$999, the Chamber and the Coeur d’Alene Press will publish a photo of you with your business logo. The newspaper photo will be seen by upward of 60,000 readers. The photo also will appear on the Chamber’s website and Facebook page.

For those who donate $1,000-$1,999, you’ll get all that and four or more tickets to view the fireworks from the Chamber’s private patio. And for gifts of $2,000 or more, you get all of the above plus an entry in the parade and an ad in the Chamber’s newsletter.

We’d love to say that the greatest reward is just knowing the major role you’re playing in bringing a terrific celebration to tens of thousands of people each year, but we know that the other stuff just adds a little incentive.

For individuals attending the Fourth of July parade, you’ll have ample opportunity to pitch in. When the bucket comes your way, don’t kick it — pitch into it.

We’re going to have a blast this Independence Day, which arrives one month and one day from today. It won’t happen by accident, either.