Volunteers, funding needed for Lombard's Lilac Parade

A few months ago, members of Lombard's Lilac Festival Parade Committee were scrambling to find volunteers.

Now, the number of helpers is at a reasonable level, but the committee is faced with an even bigger problem: the need for significantly more funding to keep the parade afloat.

"It's an issue, from a time and manpower perspective," said the committee's newly named co-chairwoman, Ellyn Murphy.

The village traditionally has picked up most of the parade costs with funding from its hotel/motel tax, Murphy said.

But in recent years the village has been urging groups that receive money through the tax to come up with 50 percent of their own funding.

"That's a huge undertaking for a committee of seven to 10 people," Murphy said. "It makes it much more difficult for us to put on the parade we want to, because we just don't have the time or the people to do that type of fundraising."

Last year, the committee brought in about 5 percent of the total revenue for the parade - which, in total, costs about $25,000 annually.

"We're way off," Murphy said.

To raise more money, the committee now is asking seated politicians and owners of commercial businesses who want to participate in the parade to pay a small fee.

"It's not mandatory as of yet," Murphy said of the fees, which are $100 for businesses and $50 for politicians. "Last year it was requested. This year I think we'll keep it as requested, but it will probably become required next year."

Murphy said she also hopes to garner more sponsorships like the one the committee had with Rock Bottom last year, which donated a portion of all sales from one night to the committee.

The majority of funding goes toward the nonprofit parade participants, Murphy said.

"We do pay them, and they use the money for their projects," she said.

The committee is open to new ideas and faces. At least 40 to 50 people are needed on parade day and more volunteers who can help with planning year-round are always welcome - especially anyone with a fundraising background, Murphy said.

"We're always looking for younger people who are willing to take it on for a little longer," she said. "Finding people in their 20s and 30s is quite helpful."

Murphy said helping with the parade can be fun and the community remains as enthusiastic about the celebration as it was when she joined the committee 18 years ago.

"It has a direct impact you can see," she said. "People enjoy it."

All residents are welcome to attend the committee's meetings at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month from September through November and January through May at the Lombard Police Yorktown site at 32 Yorktown Center, near the former Land's End location. This month's meeting, however, was moved to Thursday, Jan. 15.

For information or to express interest in fundraising or sponsorship opportunities, visit lombardlilacparade.com or email lilacparade@yahoo.com. This year's parade - themed "Live, Love, Lilacs" - is scheduled for Sunday, May 17.