Fallout of Balloonfest
The families of the two fishermen filed a lawsuit against United Way of Cleveland for how the event had resulted in the suspension of search and rescue efforts by the Coast Guard. The belief is that their boat capsized in the harsh weather that was descending on Cleveland. They escaped the vessel and attempted to swim to a nearby breakwall while the boat realigned itself. Perhaps they could have been saved if the balloons had not hampered the rescue efforts. The cost of the lawsuit caused the fundraising event to be a net loss financially and a public relations disaster for United Way.
The performance itself cost about half a million dollars to organize. That money was mostly from donations made by individuals who were concerned about their local community and wanted to help the United Way make necessary improvements. A lot of criticism was directed at the fact that so much money was spent on a fundraising spectacle rather than putting it to use in the way that it was originally intended. Had the money been spent more wisely, it could have been used to build a new school instead of causing so much environmental harm and possibly causing the deaths of two fishermen.
News of the disaster quickly spread throughout the United States. Some criticisms were directed at the lack of concern for the environment. Helium is a rare gas that, once lost, cannot be recovered. Using it to fill 1.5 million balloons in a publicity stunt seemed, to many people, a frivolous waste when it could have been used for scientific research. Others complained about the harm to local animals and wildlife. One local woman, Louise Nowakowski, filed a lawsuit for how the balloons had distressed her horses. She settled out of court. Lawsuits from the event cost the United Way millions of dollars, money that could have been used for community improvement.
Lessons can undoubtedly be learned from the disaster and infamy of Balloonfest. One, of course, is the necessity of nonprofits, like United Way, ensuring that money donated to them is spent well and not on frivolous activities that are nothing more than publicity stunts. The event did more than pull money away from the local causes that United Way supports. It caused significant harm to the community and damaged the reputation of the organization. The financial loss, due to the lawsuits and clean-up efforts, in addition to the $500,000 spent organizing the event, far outweighs any benefit.
Additionally, there is a lesson regarding the environment. Things that harm the environment may be fun for a minute or even a day, but the long-term consequences will far outweigh any benefits that may have been gained. In this case, the harm to the local wildlife and plant life, particularly around Lake Erie, cannot be estimated. There is no telling how many fish and birds inadvertently ate the brightly colored balloons, mistaking them for a meal. The plastic from the balloons cannot be recycled and is not biodegradable. It will remain on earth forever.
Where did we get this stuff? Here are our sources:
“Balloonfest 1986, the spectacle that became a debacle: Cleveland Remembers,” by John Kroll. Cleveland Remembers. August 15, 2011.