Garlic Festival Promise

The Gilroy Garlic Festival Association has been an integral part of our community for more than 40 years.  As Mayor, I will be the first member of city council to aggressively and transparently advocate to bring back a re-imagined event.  

  

The Association’s shared equity program has been the leading fundraising mechanism for many of Gilroy’s non-profit organizations for generations.  These include churches like South Valley Community, Gilroy Presbyterian and Victory Outreach; organizations like the Elk’s Lodge and Boy Scouts; sports teams like Gilroy Browns Football, Youth Wrestling and Gilroy Gators Swim Club.

 

These annual distributions have been consistently $250,000-+. In addition to these funds raised through volunteer hours, many other Gilroy non-profit organizations benefit from raising even more money serving as vendors at the annual event. For example, Gilroy Chamber of Commerce  raised $150,000+, Gilroy Foundation $50,000+ and Gilroy Rotary $50,000+.

 

These and many more groups raise tens of thousands more! Organizations like ...

     El Roble Home and School Club

     Gilroy Police Explorers

     Gavilan College

     Gilroy High Girls Basketball

     Gilroy Arts Alliance Center

     Bethany Church 

 

The Festival is integral to Gilroy for many other reasons as well. 

 

Economic Activity:  Influx of visitors drives up desperately needed hotel and sales tax generated from restaurants, stores, and gas stations.  As visitors learn more about Gilroy, they come back at other times of the year and spend even more! 

 

Leadership Opportunities: Opportunities for citizens to find their voice and leadership skills. 

 

Camaraderie: Lifelong friendships formed from volunteering at the annual event. 

 

Pride: A source of community identity!