The economy may be down, but nonprofit distribution for Gilroy Garlic Festival volunteers shows a turn for the better.
Nonprofit earnings are the highest they’ve been since 2005, when volunteers raked in $300,000, according to the festival’s Executive Director Brian Bowe.
It’s been a mini-roller coaster since then, with earnings dipping to $253,000 in 2006; leveling out to $275,000 in 2007 and 2008; sinking down to $240,000 in 2009; climbing up to $270,000 in 2010 and peaking this year at $290,000.
Over the course of 33 years in existence, volunteer earnings have surpassed $9 million.
The total $9,345,322 amount illustrates the direct, ongoing benefits to local nonprofits that participate in the event’s Volunteer Equity Program, which directly allocates profits to the festival’s volunteer work force.
Bowe said the 2011 festival’s gross revenue of $2,761,890 is up by $242,755 from last year’s $2,519,135.
There’s a significant $420,204 disparity in net revenue for 2011 ($24,357) compared to 2010 ($444, 561), but that is “primarily due to the one-time capital improvement in the amphitheater renovation in 2011,” Bowe explained.
The Garlic Festival Association donated roughly $260,000 toward the $460,000 Christmas Hill Park Amphitheater facelift. Bill and Don Christopher of Christopher Ranch donated the other $200,000.
