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Please take a few minutes to read this update on the recent and upcoming efforts of the APA's Safety & Education Foundation, activities and resources made possible through the generous donations of our supporters. Click here to add your support.
Foundation's New Safety & Education Campaign - Please Join Us!
This past March, APA’s Safety & Education Foundation formally announced the timeline for this year’s public relations and social media initiative to promote the safe use of fireworks through an extensive consumer education and safety campaign. The multi-faceted initiative is not just about safety; it's about community involvement, education, and leveraging the power of our collective voice.
We are asking that APA member companies assist in this effort by:
Remembering to Share Your Contact Information: We're gathering contact details (mobile, email, and social media) from members who wish to be part of this campaign. By signing up, you will receive reminders of training opportunities as well as be sent notices of social media opportunities.
To sign up as a participant, please visit this link and complete the sign-up form. Make sure to include the contact information for your Marketing/Advertising Manager(s). Ideally, we need this information no later than Friday, April 19.
Participating in On-Line Training: Please plan to join one of the following training sessions. Once you have signed up, Zoom links to each session will be emailed to you approximately 3-4 days before each session.
Toolbox Training – Either April 25 or April 30 at 3:00pm ET. (you need to attend just one session).
Step-by-step instructions for utilizing the resources in the Campaign Toolbox including the suggested timing for posting effectively on your website and Social Media.
Media Training – Either May 15 at 3:00pm ET or May 16 at 1:00pm ET (you need to attend just one session).
These training sessions are designed to empower you and your team with the tools and knowledge to effectively contribute to advancing fireworks safety by being effective spokespersons and submitting meaningful op-ed articles.
PLEASE NOTE: Each training session will be recorded and made available to members who were unable to attend one of the live sessions.
Kick-Off Safety - Free Social Media Opportunity
 Starting May 1, we invite APA members to partner with APSEF by adding their support to our “Kick-off Safety” social media advertising program. The campaign team will tag your company on our Facebook safety ads and messages, so that you too will get additional traffic to your Facebook page as people engage with the ads. Best of all, it will be done automatically, saving your staff time when they need it most.
To sign up for this advertising opportunity, please ensure you sign up early, using this link.
The process for having us share our safety messages and videos is easy.
1) Once you sign up and provide your social media/advertising manager’s contact information, either Kalee Pair or Valeree Johnson from Pair’d Up Social, will contact you with more details about this opportunity.
2) We’ll ask your social media/advertising manager to message us with your company’s Instagram and Facebook handles. Then we’ll add you as a collaborator on scheduled posts.
3) Accept the collaboration invite, and our safety messages will appear directly on your feed.
This is a great way to access content that pops and is ready to be shared with your audience to keep them safe this 4th of July season.
Safety Video Co-Branding Opportunity
Last year, the Foundation produced a series of safety videos featuring former Beverly Hills, CA Fire Battalion Chief Dean Guccione conveying important safety messages. The videos were produced by Veverka Brothers Productions and were very well received.
For the 2024 season, the Foundation is offering APA members the opportunity to co-brand these videos with their company logo. Distributing these co-branded videos either in your retail establishments or via social media, is an outstanding way to demonstrate your company’s commitment to promoting Fireworks Safety.
Promoting Fireworks Safety is an excellent way to keep your fans and followers engaged, all while working around the new impossible “community standards”. If you have utilized social media for years and found your accounts and thousands of followers suddenly inaccessible, this is a great way to get your name/brand promoted.
The cost to have your company’s logo featured on all ten of the APSEF Fireworks Safety videos is a $1,000 donation to the Foundation. Interested in learning more? Please contact Foundation Treasurer AJ Burns at [email protected] who generously offered to coordinate this effort.
Bucket Brigade for Safety
We are excited to report a new fireworks safety initiative by the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC). DFPC has created an elementary-age virtual program for schools, summer programs, etc., teaching about firework safety. We are thrilled that DFPC has invited the Foundation to partner on this educational endeavor and they will incorporate many of the Foundation resources in their program. The APSEF Board of Directors strongly supports efforts such as this and encourages other states to adopt similar programs to help spread the fireworks safety message.
Coloring Books
We’re excited to report that interest in the Foundation’s Coloring and Activity books continues to be strong. The books feature Professor Sparkz and include sixteen pages of fun-filled activities to help kids (and the adults in their lives) learn more about the safe and proper use of fireworks. New for 2024 is a Spanish language version.
The books, designed and produced by Pyro Novelties, were a huge hit last year and sales for 2024 were even higher! 139,500 custom books were pre-ordered for the 2024 season – and royalties from these pre-orders alone have contributed $27,900 to the Foundation!
Pyro Novelties has a supply of both the English and Spanish books available for purchase. If you wish to purchase books by the case of 250, please call (800) 552-3499 and they will process your order manually, extending the wholesale price of .99 cents per book ($247.50 per case). If you wish to purchase just a few individual copies for yourself, your children and/or grandchildren, individual copies may be ordered at this link.
In addition to Foundation Vice President Katherine Guccione who spearheaded this effort, we wish to extend heartfelt appreciation to the following companies for their pre-orders, your support not only helps finance future Foundation activities but helps spread APSEF’s important fireworks safety message – THANK YOU!
Black Cat Fireworks Gorilla Fireworks
Bellino Fireworks Mr. W Fireworks
Boomland Fireworks Phantom Fireworks
Fireworks Over America TNT Fireworks
New Table Bunting
 In 2024, Pyro Novelties is now offering poly table bunting in half rolls of 3’ x 150’ per roll. The colorful bunting showcases Professor Sparkz and by scanning a QR code, customers will be taken to the Safety Tips list on the Foundation’s website. These rolls are available via their retail or wholesale online stores with the links provided above and $10 per roll will be donated back to the Foundation. Use of this bunting layered in with your logo bunting will help showcase Safety at your locations.
In the Bag for Safety
Please remember that retail plastic shopping bags with the Foundation’s logo & safety tips are available through Pyro Novelties. The company has generously offered to make a $1 donation to the Foundation for every case of bags sold and we are most grateful for this support. More important than the financial support received through the purchase of the bags, through their distribution each year we are getting over 250,000 of these out in the hands of fireworks consumers with a constant reminder for safety.
Individual cases can be purchased for $54.99 each via their retail online store at this link.
Wholesale cases can be purchased for $34.99 each either via their wholesale online store or by phone at 800-552-3499 (minimum $500 order required to purchase at wholesale prices but you can mix and match with other products including the coloring books on the site to reach the minimum).
Don't ForgetThese Safety Resources
As you prepare for July 4th, remember the following Foundation resources which can either be printed for distribution or included in your in-store video feeds – all at no charge!
Consumer Fireworks Safety Videos
Professor Sparkz Sparkler Safety Video
Learn Fireworks Safety From Prof. Sparkz
Sparkler Safety Fact Sheet
Fireworks Safety Tips Flyer
Additional videos and other materials can be found under the "Safety Resources" tab of the Foundation website www.celebratesafely.org.
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