Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

By Rich Salit
Journal staff writer

NEWPORT -- First Night Newport is the latest to be saved by a bailout.

The annual New Year's Eve celebration, with its fireworks display over Newport Harbor, was on the verge of being canceled due to budget shortages when supporters came to the rescue. Now the nonprofit group that puts on family-oriented event has $25,000 of the $30,000 it needs.

"We are going forward," said executive director Charles Roberts, who nearly a month ago announced that the event would not go on unless sufficient contributions were received by today. "I made that decision on Sunday when we knew we had $25,000. We've had people sending all kinds of donations."

A woman sent in $25 saying that she liked to listen to live jazz on New Year's and to have somewhere to bring her grandchildren, Roberts said. One women's clothing store, Pink Pineapple, with locations in Portsmouth and Newport, led a grassroots effort to raise $8,000.

"People did not want to see their children disappointed or see the event die," he said. "I was going to cancel because we are in such debt. We didn't have the money and because of the recession we are in now, we didn't think we would be able to do it."

Roberts said that Fall River, Mass., and a number of other communities have canceled New Year's Eve celebrations. But in Newport, he said, it's "a positive message. This is the spirit we need in the United States these days. Everyone wants to go into First Night with enthusiasm and to be uplifted."

 Tags  First Night First Night in Newport saved New Year's Eve Newport

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