Lights of Love Fundraiser Kick-Off Tree Lighting on November 22nd

A Season of Giving Ignites with Connecticut Hospice’s Lights of Love

The holiday season in Branford officially begins on November 22nd, not with a shopping mall, but with the warm glow of hundreds of lights illuminating the trees at Connecticut Hospice. The annual Lights of Love fundraiser, a cornerstone of community giving for decades, is once again inviting the public to participate in a tradition that honors loved ones while supporting vital end-of-life care. This year, the event promises a festive kick-off complete with treats, music, and a special visit from Santa, all centered around a simple but powerful act: remembering those who have passed and supporting those who are currently in hospice care.

The heart of the fundraiser lies in the luminaries. For a donation, individuals can dedicate a light in honor or in memory of someone special. These lights, once a small gesture, have grown into a community-wide phenomenon. The Connecticut Hospice, a pioneering not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, reported that last year’s campaign funded over 20% of its patient care services. This isn’t just a tree-lighting ceremony; it’s a critical funding mechanism that keeps the doors open and the care flowing.

The journey to illuminate the waterfront starts well before the main event. A tight schedule of preparations ensures everything runs smoothly. Raffle item commitments were due by November 13th, with all items needing to be delivered to the hospice by November 20th. That same day, volunteers and staff will be busy setting up the live trees and adorning the Waterfront area with decorations, transforming the space into a winter wonderland. The public is invited to witness this transformation and be part of the official start to the season.

The Main Event: A Community Gathering

The festivities will commence on Sunday, November 22nd, at 3:00 PM. The event is free and open to all, offering a perfect opportunity for families to kick off their holiday season with meaning. Attendees can enjoy festive treats and live music while mingling with fellow community members. The true magic happens at 4:30 PM when the switch is flipped, and the hundreds of Lights of Love simultaneously illuminate, creating a breathtaking spectacle. As an added delight, Santa Claus will be on hand to meet with children, adding a layer of timeless joy to the afternoon’s celebrations.

Beyond the Lights: The Raffle and How to Give

While the tree lighting is the visual centerpiece of the event, the fundraising engine continues to run strong. The raffle, a key component of the Lights of Love campaign, will open both in-person and online at 3:00 PM on November 22nd. Tickets will be available for purchase until the raffle closes at noon on December 15th. Winners will be notified immediately following the drawing, adding an element of excitement and anticipation to the charitable giving. For those who prefer a more traditional method of donation, the hospice provides a downloadable donation form, allowing for contributions by mail.

For questions or assistance with donations, the community can reach out directly to the hospice. Donations can be made by calling (203) 315-7502 or by emailing [email protected] during business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Development Office is located at 100 Double Beach Road in Branford, where mailed checks and forms should be sent. All contributions are tax-deductible, with the organization’s federal tax ID number being 06-0878822, ensuring that every gift is both meaningful and accounted for.

The Connecticut Hospice has long been a leader in the field, and its Lights of Love fundraiser reflects its enduring mission. The event highlights a critical reality: the high cost of providing comprehensive, compassionate end-of-life care. While Medicare and insurance cover a portion of the medical expenses, the holistic care that defines the hospice experience—emotional support for families, spiritual counseling, and comfort measures for patients—often relies heavily on charitable contributions. The Lights of Love campaign directly bridges this gap, ensuring that financial concerns never become a barrier to receiving dignified and peaceful care.

The story of this fundraiser is also a story of community resilience. In an era of increasing medical costs and often impersonal healthcare systems, the Connecticut Hospice provides personalized, patient-centered care. The Lights of Love event is not a plea from a distant corporation; it’s a call from neighbors to neighbors, reminding everyone of the profound impact that collective, small acts of generosity can have. It transforms the often-difficult topic of end-of-life care into an opportunity for celebration, remembrance, and shared humanity.

As the holiday season approaches, the Connecticut Hospice’s Lights of Love fundraiser offers a different kind of celebration—one that values compassion over commerce and community over consumerism. It invites people to pause, remember, and give in a way that honors the past while supporting the present. With the raffle now open and the tree lighting just weeks away, the community has a clear and direct way to participate in this vital tradition of giving. The question isn’t just whether to give, but how many lights one might illuminate to honor a life that has mattered so deeply.