Powering the Holidays Program awards nearly $60,000 in grants to support community-led holiday light events and celebrations
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 22, 2024--
The festive season is fast approaching, bringing with it opportunities for communities to come together and spread cheer. To support local holiday light displays across northern Illinois, ComEd and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus today announced grants of up to $2,500 each for 24 northern Illinois communities through the annual ComEd Powering the Holidays Program.
“Holiday light displays have a unique way of bringing people together and creating shared moments of wonder and joy,” said Melissa Washington, Senior Vice President of Customer Operations and Strategic Initiatives at ComEd. “Through our partnership with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, we’re proud to help create experiences that are not only visually remarkable but that also create deep, meaningful connections between our neighbors.”
Since 2021, the Powering the Holidays grant program has celebrated the unique character of local communities by supporting holiday events that promote cultural exchange and foster inclusivity. With the latest 2024 grant recipients, ComEd has now provided a total of $172,000 in funding to 70 communities and organizations for holiday light displays since the program's launch.
“We’re excited to continue our partnership with ComEd through the Powering the Holidays Program,” said Neil James, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus. “It’s always inspiring to see the creativity and diversity of the light displays that these grants help bring to life year after year. These events do more than brighten our communities; they create opportunities for people to come together and share an appreciation for the rich cultural traditions that make our communities unique.”
Communities will use these grants to power holiday light events taking place between November 1, 2024 and February 13, 2025. Municipalities, townships, counties, and other local government entities within ComEd's service territory were eligible to apply for funding.
Powering the Holidays is part of ComEd's ongoing commitment to supporting holiday light events across Chicagoland including popular holiday attractions at Lincoln Park Zoo, Brookfield Zoo, The Morton Arboretum and Chicago Botanic Garden. To learn more about Powering the Holidays, visit the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus website.
The 24 ComEd Powering the Holidays grant recipients and the programs to be supported are:
Merry and Bright Event (Bartlett, Ill.) – The Village’s annual event will include a tree lighting, a small business hot cocoa crawl, carriage rides, food trucks and a food donation drive. Funds will be used for tree lighting and decorations in Bartlett Park. The event will be held on December 6th, 2024.
Broadview Holiday Magic Event (Broadview, Ill.) – Broadview Holiday Magic transforms the community into a winter wonderland with a tree lighting ceremony, street lighting, performances from carolers and musicians, holiday-themed games and crafts. Grant funds will be used to purchase and install lights, wreaths, garlands and other decorations for trees, lamp posts and buildings. The event will be held on December 14th, 2024.
25th Ward Alderman Office (Chicago, Ill.) – The 25th Ward office, serving Little Village and Pilsen, will create a public light display for residents at the Plaza Tenochtitlán, which has a rich history and heavy foot traffic. Community organizations, schools and youth organizations will be involved in the event. The event will be held on December 7th, 2024.
Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch Annual Tree Lighting Event (Chicago, Ill.) – The event will include a Christmas tree, ice rink, toy giveaways, petting zoo, pony rides, raffles, Santa Claus and food trucks. Funds will go towards new lighting equipment, outreach mailers, a children’s scavenger hunt and stocking decorating. The event will be held on December 7th, 2024.
Humboldt Park Health Power of Community Holiday Lights (Chicago, Ill.) – Humboldt Park Health’s first annual tree lighting and toy drive at their new Wellness Center will reflect Puerto Rican holiday traditions. Funds will be used for trees, lights and ornaments. The event will be held on November 19th, 2024.
South Chicago Tree Lighting Celebration (Chicago, Ill.) – South Chicago’s community event will feature a tree lighting, caroling, performances by local talent, hot chocolate and meet-and-greets with a holiday reindeer. Funds will be used for lights, decorations, food and entertainment. This exact date of this event is still being determined, but will take place on a Saturday in December.
A Brighter Crete Country Christmas for All (Crete, Ill.) – Funds will be used to purchase high-quality, energy-efficient lighting for a tent and to replace outdated lights for Santa's Sleigh. The event features entertainment from professionals and local youth groups, followed by Santa riding through the community to pick up donated toys and food. The event will be held on December 7th, 2024.
Dixmoor Holiday Whimsy Wonderland (Dixmoor, Ill.) – LifeHouse Recovery Organization, in partnership with the Village of Dixmoor, will host a Christmas Holiday Garden Party in a community garden. The event will feature local musicians, artisan booths, hot cocoa and warm cider, with energy-efficient LED lighting displays. The event will be held on December 14th, 2024.
Fox Lake Holiday Light Show Display (Fox Lake, Ill.) – The annual Holiday Light Display at the Community Garden will kick off the holiday season with a parade. Funds will be used towards additional lighting displays around the community. The event will be held on November 30th.
Tree Lighting Celebration (Hanover Park, Ill.) – Funds will be used to purchase an LED picture frame photo booth with a snowflake design for the annual Tree Lighting event. The celebration will also include music, choirs, face painters and other entertainers. The event will be held on December 6th.
Village of Hawthorn Woods Hometown Holiday (Hawthorn, Ill.) – The event will include a tree lighting ceremony, Santa visits, wagon rides, carolers and games. Funds will be used to purchase LED Candy Cane Pathway Lights to safely illuminate the walking trail and to replace incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs. The event will be held on December 7th, 2024.
Itasca Winter Wonderland (Itasca, Ill.) – Funds will be used to purchase a refurbished light exhibit to complete a three-piece set for Itasca’s annual Winter Wonderland event. The event features caroling, reindeer, snow globes and six weeks of free activities. The festivities begin on December 1st.
Lincolnshire Lights (Lincolnshire, Ill.) – This annual holiday event includes school performances, visits with Santa, toy donations and a tree lighting. Funds will be used to offset costs for the holiday tree, which have risen significantly. The event will be held on December 6th.
City of Mendota Christmas (Mendota, Ill.) – The Mendota Christmas event will include free horse-drawn carriage rides, hot chocolate, Santa rides on a firetruck, a book giveaway and free crafts for children. Funds will be used to purchase high-quality, energy-efficient LED lights for the large Christmas Tree in Veteran’s Park and lights for a tree decorating contest. The event will be held on December 7th, 2024.
Village of Oak Lawn Shines Bright (Oak Lawn, Ill.) – The event will feature a tree lighting, visits with Santa, carolers and inflatable decorations. Funds will be used for high-quality LED lights and decorative displays for the tree, pathways and public buildings. The event will be held on December 7th, 2024.
Christmas in the Village Event (Peotone, Ill.) – This event will include a tree lighting ceremony, downtown lighting and business decorations, arts and crafts, visits with Santa, face painting, wagon rides and a parade. Funds will be used for streetlight decorations, themed light displays and tree lighting enhancements using energy-efficient LED lights. The event will be held on December 14th, 2024.
Roselle Winterfest (Roselle, Ill.) – Roselle’s Winterfest will feature live music, ice sculpting, carolers, children’s games and a tree lighting. The grant funds will be used to purchase holiday lights and decorations for Petal Plaza. The event will be held on December 7th, 2024.
South Holland Winter Wonderland (South Holland, Ill.) – The Winter Wonderland event at Veterans Memorial Park will include a tree lighting, trolley rides, skating rink, train rides, craft tents and more. Grant funding will enhance the experience by acquiring additional lights and an LED display. The event will be held on December 6th, 2024.
Village of Trout Valley: Let There Be Light (Trout Valley, Ill.) – Funds will be used to upgrade power delivery equipment to light a 130-year-old barn used for holiday displays. This project will improve safety and reliability—ensuring the holiday magic is lit all season long. The event will be held on November 29th, 2024.
Westchester Winter Wonderland Walk (Westchester, Ill.) – The Winter Wonderland Walk will guide residents through a light-decorated park with fire pits, s'mores, hot cocoa and a DJ. Funds will be used to decorate as many trees as possible where residents walk and gather in the park. Activities are from December 4th through 6th, 2024, with lights displayed throughout December.
Westmont Holly Days (Westmont, Ill.) – The Holly Days event will include holiday tree decorating, mule rides, inflatables, dog sled demonstrations, hot chocolate and photos with Santa. Funds will be used for additional holiday-themed lights including large snowflakes on light poles. The event will be held on December 7th, 2024.
Downtown Holiday Parade Lights (Wilmington, Ill.) – The Holiday Parade will feature floats and community organizations collecting donations and sharing giveaways. Grant funding will be used to enhance holiday lighting in the historic downtown area, as the city has been recovering from recent flooding following a derecho event. The event will be held on November 30th, 2024.
Woodridge Winterfest (Woodridge, Ill.) – Winterfest will include a tree lighting ceremony, music, hot cocoa, children’s crafts, photo opportunities and a makers market. Funding from this grant will go towards a 20-foot Christmas tree, replacing the previous 7-foot tree used in prior events. The event will be held on November 23rd.
United City of Yorkville Holiday Celebration and Tour of Lights Enhancement (Yorkville, Ill.) – The event will include a tree lighting, visits with Santa, performances, a parade of lights, fireworks and a home lighting contest. Funds will be used to purchase additional reusable lighting displays. The event will be held on December 2nd, 2024.
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