Monday, December 17, 2007
YOUNGSTOWN — An influx of money means First Night Youngstown officials no longer have to worry about scaling back the event.
Unable to raise the money needed, First Night officials appealed Dec. 5 to Youngstown City Council to provide the remaining $15,000 necessary for its eighth annual alcohol-free, family-oriented event. First Night is held Dec. 31 in the downtown area.
City council gave $6,000 to First Night, $1,000 more than it contributed to the event in recent years. That left First Night $9,000 short of the $31,600 estimated cost of putting on the event.
But then Thermal Ventures, a company that had contributed to First Night in the past, came up with $5,000, said the Rev. Edward Noga, the event’s vice president and pastor of Youngstown’s St. Patrick’s Church.
Also, an anonymous donor contributed $4,000 to the event, said Nancy Haraburda, a First Night board of trustees member.
First Night raised a little over $10,000 since the council meeting two weeks ago, Father Noga said.
For the complete story, read Tuesday’s Vindicator or vindy.com