Jim Moore / November 4, 2026
HORNELL — With less than two weeks remaining until the Southern Tier’s premier regional fundraising marathon, Hornell Partners for Growth (HPG) has initiated a community-wide appeal to secure sponsorships for the city’s 2027 Fourth of July celebration.
The action campaign centers on the upcoming FLX Gives initiative, a 24-hour virtual giving event running from 6 p.m. Thursday, November 12, through 6 p.m. Friday, November 13. During that single-day window, local civic leaders hope to mobilize residents, families, and businesses to fund one of the region’s most anticipated summer traditions.
While organizers pledge to keep the festival entirely free to the public, the type and scale of attractions depends on local funding being secured in advance. Contributions gathered through the upcoming FLX Gives campaign will help provide:
- Musical bookings and live stage performances
- Professional sound reinforcement and production staging
- The evening pyrotechnic fireworks presentation
- Youth amusements, including bounce houses and interactive obstacle courses
- Balloon artists and children’s entertainment
- The return of popular family train rides
In a Facebook post, HPG organizers emphasized that the effort relies on widespread participation rather than large individual and business sponsors alone. Small micro-donations, ranging from $5 to $50, accumulate alongside corporate sponsorships to expand the festival’s programming footprint across downtown Hornell and surrounding communities.
Residents interested in supporting the effort ahead of the November 12 launch can follow campaign updates and review giving guidelines online at FLXGives.org, or help amplify the initiative by encouraging local employers and neighborhood networks to participate during the 24-hour drive.
