PHANTOM FIREWORKS PRESS RELEASES

Erie Organization Partners with Phantom Fireworks for Great Success!

ERIE, PA – Erie-based Voices for Independence is partnering with Phantom Fireworks for the second straight year to sell Pennsylvania-approved consumer fireworks to raise funds to benefit individuals in northwest Pennsylvania with physical disabilities.

Operating the Phantom Fireworks storefront in the Pittsburgh Commons Plaza on West 12th Street in Erie, VFI, a non-profit grassroots advocacy and service organization of and for individuals with disabilities, is working with the Ohio-based consumer fireworks leader for the second year in a row.

“Working with Phantom Fireworks is a great way to raise funds,” says Bob Bach, Voices for Independence spokesman. “We provide the work force, while Phantom provides everything we need to conduct the sales including inventory, signage, advertising, marketing instruction and retail space. It’s a great luxury from a fundraising standpoint to not have to spend a lot of time on logistical things like that. It is a genuine win-win situation.”

VFI’s main goal is to facilitate independent living for individuals with disabilities by providing support programs such as waiver services to move their clients out of nursing homes, skills training, peer counseling and giving their clients the necessary support to lead productive, everyday lives.

The organization also makes advocacy a primary focus, working with municipal governments in the area to address concerns such as accessibility.

Bach says that 100% of the funds raised by their Erie storefront go to benefit local people. “When it comes to donating to charities,” explains Bach, “folks are often hesitant to give because the money can go into a general fund and can end up all across the country. With Voices for Independence, all of the money we raise is spent locally to help people in northwest Pennsylvania.”

For Phantom Fireworks, which operates over 1,200 temporary locations nationwide, many of which are operated by non-profit organizations like Voices for Independence, it is a source of pride to be able to help such an important cause.

“We are really proud to be involved with Voices again in 2009,” says Fred Kramer, Phantom’s Pennsylvania Regional Manager. “It is a great feeling to be able to assist them in achieving their goals of helping the people with disabilities in northwest Pennsylvania become more independent.”

In 2008, Voices for Independence operated a tent location in Erie before upgrading to the storefront in the Pittsburgh Commons plaza this year.

Organizations interested in operating a temporary Phantom Fireworks location to raise funds for their cause are encouraged to log on to http://www.fireworks.com/fundraising/ for more information on Phantom’s fundraising program.

Phantom Fireworks is owned by the B.J. Alan Company, located in Youngstown, Ohio.