Fifteen nonprofit organizations in Gilroy raised more than $260,000 through Safe and Sane fireworks sales surrounding the Fourth of July holiday.
According to city officials, the local nonprofits collectively took home $261,038 from temporary vendor booths that were set up throughout the city and in operation from July 1-4. Total retail sales—before program costs and a city “mitigation fee” were subtracted—added up to $522,077 during the four-day period.
Gilroy Little League, which raised $26,159, plans to use the funds to purchase equipment, improve facilities, provide scholarships to local families and keep player registration fees down, according to a league spokesperson.
“Gilroy Little League is extremely grateful and humbled by the community’s strong support by shopping our fireworks booth,” GLL Board Secretary Valerie Lott said in a statement. “Every purchase at the GLL fireworks booth directly benefits the kids of little league in our community. Our mission is to provide a youth baseball and softball program centered around fun, leadership and sportsmanship, and we simply would not be able to achieve this without the support of the community.”
The Gilroy High School Quarterback Club, which supports the school’s varsity and JV football teams, raised $16,931 from fireworks sales. The Safe and Sane booth is the club’s biggest fundraiser each year.
“With the funds, we have been able to provide team dinners before every game, hold a preseason family barbecue, provide coach’s apparel, coach’s headsets, coach’s training, fund a portion of the Homecoming fireworks, the Hudl app, purchase team equipment such as uniforms, helmets, footballs, pads, guardian caps, sled, etc.,” a Quarterback Club spokesperson said in a statement. “We also have an end of season banquet, and one we are most proud to bring back is our scholarships for three senior football athletes.”
Club board members, parents and family members volunteer to operate the booth each year. GHS student athletes help by promoting the sales, the statement said.
“We are a football family that support each other and want to see our athletes succeed,” the Quarterback Club’s statement continued. “Thank you to everyone who contributed to our booth and know that every profited dollar is benefiting Gilroy High School Football and its continued legacy.”
The fireworks booths this year were operated by the following nonprofits: Gilroy Little league, Gilroy Apostolic Church, Christian School Parent Club, Christopher High School Athletic Booster Club, El Camino Club, Gilroy Elks Lodge No. 1567, Gilroy Gridiron Youth Football & Cheer, Gilroy High School Quarterback Club, Gilroy High School Wrestling, Gilroy Police Officers Association, Gilroy Rotary Club, South County Baseball, Gilroy Youth Sports Foundation and Victory Outreach.
The 2026 sales total surpassed that of last year’s seasonal program, which raised about $455,000 in gross proceeds. The program is supplied by wholesale vendor TNT Fireworks.
At the June 15 Gilroy City Council meeting, the council approved a 2026 “fireworks service fee” of $18,925.32 to be paid by TNT Fireworks. The fee supports public education and awareness campaigns, public safety staffing to enforce provisions of the city code related to fireworks and fire suppression efforts related to safe and sane products, according to city staff.
State law allows cities to charge fireworks related fees totaling up to 7% of reported gross sales. In addition to the 2026 service fee, TNT is also responsible for about $12,923 in vendor booth permit fees and storage yard permit fees.
