Welcome back to our 8 Weeks of Connection series!
For the 8 weeks leading up to the new year, PPR highlights different team members as they share how they’re building connections into their holiday season!
Last week, Heather talked about how she’s connecting with her new teammates at PPR Strategies.
Hanna Turner, PPR’s Director of Client Relations, tells us about connecting through service.
Take it away for week four, Hanna!
After years of talking about joining the Rotary Club of South Fairmont, West Virginia, I finally did it this year! My husband and I are always looking for ways to serve the community, so it made sense for me to join the Rotary. They support the United Way, a cause I am passionate about. That, plus I live conveniently close to their morning meeting place (I can walk there), it all really made sense.
One of the biggest fundraisers for South Fairmont Rotary is the Celebration of Lights, where over 540 light displays (think waving snowmen, ice skaters, candy canes, and more festive holiday designs) are set up in a 1.3-mile loop around Morris Park in Fairmont. Families come by the carload, sometimes even the busload, from near and far to drive through the park, enjoying the lights and celebrating the season.
This event has become a pillar in my community and makes it feel like a Hallmark Movie. After spending the last decade in Fairmont, I’ve always wanted to help organize this event and serve my community—connecting other families with the joy and wonder of the winter season.
Beyond being a memory-making event, all proceeds from the Celebration of Lights support the Tygart Valley United Way (TVUW), which serves five counties and has thirty-two funded partner organizations, adding to its impact in North Central West Virginia. Last year, the TVUW positively impacted over 35,000 individuals, and the Celebration of Lights raised over $65,000 to support their vital services in our region! That’s huge!
Rotary members and other community volunteers work together every October to prepare for the holiday event. Months of planning go into the event, but the big (and most fun) task is setting up the park, including placing the displays along the route and checking that each light is working (picture the feeling of checking your Christmas lights times a million).
This year, I positioned each tiny light to face forward and clipped any that had popped off back onto the frame. Some of the work is “easy” but tedious. The number of displays increases each year, which means so does the work, but it is worth it to support our community!
The Celebration of Lights kicks off with a Market in the Park. Vendors are set up throughout the park, and attendees are bused in to walk around the park to shop, eat, and drink. Carolers sing throughout the market, adding to the Hallmark-esque atmosphere.
Most days, the park is open and is designated for cars to drive through; however, they also offer “walker” nights.
The 1.3-mile loop is also a popular destination for runners and walkers. Naturally, a Reindeer Run 5K is part of the happenings. Morris Park is also home to some of the best disc golf courses on the East Coast, and the disc golfers join in on the holiday fun with a “Glow Bowl.”
The Celebration of Lights has become a holiday tradition for our family, and knowing that the event gives so much back to the community makes it all the better. We continue to support our United Way as much as possible because it is a great way to make a significant impact.
Selfies with Santa are a must!
Helping as many as you can as often as you can is something we all should strive to do, especially during the holiday season as we celebrate our families, communities, and our blessings.
Reimagining Places With You,
Hanna and the PPR Strategies Team
