Lottery Sponsorship Helps Save Fireworks Displays In Illinois Towns
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Fireworks on the Fourth of July will light up the sky in several local communities who may have gone without except for a promotion for the Illinois lottery reports WBBM's Julie Mann.
Cutbacks have cancelled fireworks displays in many towns over the last few years while others have struggled to raise money needed to put on a show.
Lottery Sponsorship Helps Save Fireworks Displays In Illinois Towns
"We're sponsoring fireworks in Chicago at Navy Pier, in Harvey, in Champaign, in Batavia and in Rockford," said Michael Jones, Illinois Lottery Superintendent.
Jones says the lottery is sponsoring fireworks displays in those towns to either make them happen or make them better.
"Harvey it is $10,000, Champaign $5,000, Batavia $2,500 and Rockford $1,000," said Jones.
As for Navy Pier, the Illinois Lottery is putting up $20,000. It is part of a promotion for the lottery's Fourth of July raffle, 1 million tickets for $10 apiece. He notes that lotteries have a long revenue-raising history.
"Thomas Jefferson famously said about the lottery that he had organized, 'It lays the tax only on the willing,'" said Jones.
For a complete list of fireworks displays in the Chicago-area, visit cbschicago.com/fireworks.
