Giving Back

The Morton Pumpkin Festival’s core function is community enhancement for the Village of Morton and the Morton Chamber of Commerce, a local non-profit organization that strives to strengthen local business and enhance the Village of Morton. In addition to using festival revenue to support their general operations, the Morton Chamber of Commerce donates tens of thousands of dollars each year to other, local non-profit organizations that assist in the operations of the festival.

2020 Give Back Project

This year, we are committed to supporting our local Chamber member businesses and organizations as we all recover from the effects of COVID-19. For this reason, some registration fees will be waived, costs will be reduced, and you will see even more local flavor throughout 2020 Roaring Pumpkins and All That Jazz. Donations will still be made to our Festival endowment funds: the Festival Give Back endowment given to nonprofit and youth organizations that volunteer at Festival and the Project Pumpkin fund (details below).

Be a Community Supporter

Now more than ever, we’re so grateful for the community that has volunteered and celebrated the Morton Pumpkin Festival through the years. 2020 has impacted all of us in ways we didn’t expect, didn’t plan for and limited our opportunities to regain engagement. The 54th Roaring Pumpkins and All That Jazz mission is to “Give-Back” to our community and we invite you to join us!

We welcome all citizens, families and businesses to support the 54^th re-imagined Pumpkin Festival, Roaring Pumpkins and All That Jazz safely hosted community event. A financial support at any level will make a difference.

While we cannot gather in our traditional festival manner, your support will help to carry out Giving-Back to our local brick and mortar businesses and organizations we all know and love. Additionally, providing the necessary tools for our team and volunteers to safely host a community event with the flair of Morton’s favorite time of the year, celebrating the history of the Pumpkin Capital of the World and supporting the Morton community.

Recognizing our Community Supporters

Business, citizen and family contributors will be recognized on our Pumpkin Channel (new this year, airing events and pumpkin fun) throughout the week of Roaring Pumpkins and All That Jazz
A business, citizen or family contribution of $100.00 or more will receive a $10.00 Chamber Check to Shop Local

Contributions can be mailed:

Morton Chamber of Commerce

415 W. Jefferson

Morton, IL 61550

Credit cards can be taken over the phone by calling 309-263-2491.

Please provide how you would like your donation to be recognized

(business name, family name, individual, in memory or in honor of, etc.)

2019 Give Back Project

This year, the Morton Chamber of Commerce will direct a portion of the revenue generated from the 2019 Morton Pumpkin Festival to updates to Horseshoe Park.

The ground where Horseshoe Park currently sits has a long history of public use here in Morton, IL. This ground was part of the interurban railroad that connected Peoria to Bloomington and beyond from 1907-1953. When the railway went out of service in 1953 the property was acquired by the Village of Morton and subsequently gifted to the Morton Park District in 1968.

In November of 1968 the Morton Park District Board of Commissioners decided to hold a public auction to sell the property, but when no bids were received the Park District decided to create Horseshoe Park. Four horseshoe pits were installed public use. In 2001 two of the horseshoe pits were removed and a gazebo was installed for public seating.

Following almost two decades of minimal use the Morton Park District is now planning to remove the last two horseshoe pits and create a natural landscaped area with added public seating. The native plants that will be planted will aid the local pollinator population as well as be an aesthetically pleasing gathering area for the public. This property has sat along the annual Pumpkin Festival Parade route throughout its existence and will for generations to come.

Project Pumpkin Endowment Fund

Project Pumpkin is an endowment fund the Morton Chamber of Commerce launched in 2013 in partnership with the Morton Community Foundation. The purpose of the fund is to provide access to the Morton Pumpkin Festival for families in need. To contribute to the fund, festival guests can purchase a special item at the Pumpkin Store before and during the Morton Pumpkin Festival. 100% of the proceeds from those sales go to support this fund. Direct contributions to the fund can also be sent to the Morton Community Foundation.

Non Profit Partners 2019

At the 2019 Festival, the following non-profit organizations received a portion of the revenue from the Morton Pumpkin Festival through their support of Festival activities and operations:

Peoria Public School Foundation
Marquette Heights Mosquitoes
Pekin Sunset Kiwanis
Blessed Sacrament
Tazewell County Public Health Foundation
Young Life Morton
Interact/Language Club
Pekin Dragons Hockey Club
TAPS
Alzheimer’s Association
Girl Scout Troop 4481
Pekin Gamers 10U
Titanium Cheer Force
Girl Scout Troop 4718
Big Brothers/Sisters HOI
Jefferson School Activity Fund
Jefferson School PTO
MHS Softball
MJHS Softball
MHS Girls Volleyball
MHS Football
Peoria Jaycees
MYBA 9U Travel Team
Flynn School of Irish Dance
Morton St. Jude Runners
Morton Tennis Association
Community United Church of Christ
Pekin Gamers 8U
Boy Scout Troop 178
Union Mission 12U Red
Midwest Food Bank (Pumpkin Pedal)
Morton High School Booster Club
TCRC
Village of Morton

Past Year Contributions

The Morton Chamber of Commerce has contributed thousands of dollars to local nonprofit organizations and projects through the revenue generated by the Morton Pumpkin Festival. Here is a history of contributions over the past decade:

2001 – $11,000
2002 – $15,250
2003 – $16,500
2004 – $17,000
2005 – $17,500
2006 – $5,000
2007 – $25,000
2008 – $5,000
2009 – $35,000
2010 – $40,000
2011 – $13,118
2012 – $46,793 (Special Project: Downtown Memorial Plaza – $25,000)
2013 – $41,062.26 (Special Project: Idlewood Arts Pavilion – $25,000)
2014 – $46,564.37 (Special Project: Veterans Memorial – $25,000)
2015 – $46,152.22 (Special Project: Birchwood Park Softball Complex – $25,000)
2016 – $31,016.61 (Special Project: Library Book Drop & Downtown Flower Pots – $14,714.61)
2017 – $39,074.13 (Special Project: Idlewood Large Picnic Shelter $20,000)
2018 – $38,740 (Special Project: Jefferson School Playground $10,000)
2019 – $51,650.83 (Special Project: Morton Park District, Horseshoe Park $25,000)