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Veterans Day Parade Budget Tight

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By ANGELA DELGADO, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 20, 2007

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Despite funding issues that threatened to postpone the 14th annual Veterans Day Parade, organizers are certain the show will go on.

'We're proceeding full speed ahead,' said parade chairman Brian Boyle. 'Just because we don't have money doesn't stop us.

The parade takes place from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 10. Every year the route begins at Morgan Woods Elementary School, 7001 Armand Drive, continues to Hanley Road and heads south to Webb Middle School, 6035 Hanley Road. The parade is almost a mile long.

Boyle said it takes $7,000 to $9,000 to put on the parade, and so far the Veterans Day Parade Group, a nonprofit organization since 2002, has raised almost $4,000.

'Freedom isn't free, and neither is a parade to honor those that gave us that freedom,' Boyle said. 'We do it on a shoestring budget.'

Because it is experiencing a funding crunch, the group is willing to sell the naming rights to the parade. The name could bring in a cool $10,000 a year, and proceeds would go toward funding the parade and more.

'There are things we'd like to do that we can't budget,' said Gerald Jacobs, vice-chair and treasurer of the parade. 'We'd like to award plaques to contributors, would like to have a breakfast prior to the parade, and all that stuff costs money.'

Tuesday evening, the organization met to discuss the parade and funding. Every year it buys 1,500 small flags to pass to parade attendees. The group considered not buying any but decided to budget for half that amount. The cost of busing in 25 marching bands is about $4,000, and the group is hoping for a break.

Members are calling businesses asking for flag and flower donations - anything to help cut costs. They hope businesses call them and help the cause.

Boyle said the donations would be tax-deductible.

This isn't the first time the parade has been in jeopardy. In 2001, organizers also had difficulty raising money, and they appealed to the public. New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner heard the call and donated $15,000.

Boyle said he is unsure why funding is slow this year, but he thinks the economy in general is to blame.

Anyone interested in donating can call (813) 961-6194, visit www.veteransparade.org, or mail to Veterans Day Parade Group, P.O. BOX 262125, Tampa FL 33685.

Reporter Angela Delgado can be reached at (813) 865-1501 or adelgado@tampatrib.com.

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