Fund to sustain Pops on River

Hussman Foundation puts $100,000 toward endowment

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Pops on the River music and fireworks spectacle will continue to pop up for years to come thanks to a new fund established to support the festivities.

Billed as the state's biggest Fourth of July event, Pops on the River is a day-long observance that centers on the First Security Amphitheater and River Market in downtown Little Rock. Fireworks and a free concert by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra highlight the celebration.

New is the Pops on the River Charitable Fund, started with a $100,000 donation from the Hussman Foundation, maintained at the Arkansas Community Foundation.

"The idea is to try to set up an endowment fund over the years that will generate enough income so that it could pay for Pops on the River," Democrat-Gazette Publisher Walter E. Hussman Jr. said.

The Arkansas Democrat started Pops on the River in 1983 and sponsored the always-free music and fireworks for 30 years. More recently, the newspaper has sought other sponsors to help pay for the community get-together.

"We started out kind of small," Hussman said, "and it grew."

Pops on the River draws about 30,000 people to downtown Little Rock, according to Tabitha Cunningham, Democrat-Gazette events and sponsorships director.

Last year's event, which ran from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., included food vendors, children's entertainment, a car show, an "Oh, Say! Can You Sing?" contest, the Air National Guard Band of the Southwest, an Arkansas Symphony concert of patriotic music and marches, and a fireworks finale.

Hussman envisions that the newly established fund -- technically, a "quasi-endowed fund" -- will build year by year toward a goal of $1 million. The goal amount would generate $50,000 per year to cover the costs of Pops on the River.

If economics allow for continued donations of $100,000 a year, the Pops on the River Charitable Fund will attain $1 million in 10 years. The goal could be reached even sooner depending on other contributions, Hussman said. The fund is set up to allow not only corporate contributions but also private donations through the Arkansas Community Foundation.

The publisher said he made the move to ensure Pops on the River as much as possible, given "no guarantees in life."

"It's just been such a great thing for the community," Hussman said.

Metro on 01/16/2015

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