By John Soukup
for the Register
Two organizations dedicated to supporting women and families recently received a major boost, thanks to the explosive generosity of a local fireworks company.
The St. Gianna Program of Catholic Social Services and the Women’s Care Center each received $30,308.75 donations from Vinton Enterprises. The funds represent a percentage of the money raised through sales at 11 firework stands during the 2025 Fourth of July season.
Vinton Enterprises, owned by Joe and Marsha Vinton of Cortland, and run with the help of family, has been lighting up the skies—and lives—for 15 years. What started as a family business has grown into a charitable engine, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years for local parishes, Knights of Columbus councils, Catholic schools, and pro-life organizations.
Most of the Vinton stands are staffed by volunteers from Knights of Columbus councils connected to parishes in Beatrice, Cortland, Crete, Denton Hickman, and Lincoln. Each council receives a percentage of the proceeds from their respective stands, which are supplied and coordinated by Vinton Enterprises.
Joe Vinton said the mission behind the fireworks matters as much as the sales.
“We’re committed to keeping our product line family-friendly,” he said. “You won’t find any inappropriate packaging or objectionable images in our stands. We only partner with suppliers who share those values.”
Workers also invoke the intercession of St. Barbara, the patron saint of fireworks, for safety and protection.
“It’s hard work,” Vinton said, “but it’s worth it when you see what it makes possible for organizations like the St. Gianna Program and the Women’s Care Center.”
With next year’s fireworks already on order, the Vinton family is proving that even short fuses can lead to lasting light.
