Annual Lights of Kindness

The Rotary Club of South Anne Arundel County will celebrate the 10^th anniversary of its highly successful Annual Lights of Kindness charity event, a Christmas tree decorating contest that will be held December 1–3 at Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville, Md.

An Opening Reception will be held on Thursday, Nov. 30 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Homestead Gardens to recognize the sponsors and charities involved in the event.

This event has been important to the community over the past years; these unique and magical events raised $190,000 over nine years to help local charities.

The goal is to raise awareness for both local charities and businesses to make our community a better place. Businesses partner with charities to decorate trees and members of the community vote for their favorite tree(s) in person and online to help raise funds for the charity and the club’s foundation. Half of the proceeds will be donated to the designated charity and half will be donated to the South Anne Arundel County Rotary Foundation.  A cash donation prize will be split among the charities' top three decorated trees receiving the most votes.

Proceeds will benefit the programs supported by the Rotary Foundation, including Bountiful Backpacks Program currently providing food for needy elementary school children; the Dictionary Project; Haiti workforce development programs; the Rotary Youth Leadership Assembly; scholarships, and the Polio Plus program to eradicate the disease world-wide.

Last year more than 10,000 people walked through the Lights of Kindness tree forest during the holiday season at Homestead Gardens.

Inflation and economic conditions continue to create needs in our community. The Lights of Kindness Christmas tree decorating contest provides business sponsors a valuable marketing opportunity in addition to raising thousands of dollars for local charities.

All trees will be displayed at Homestead Gardens from  Friday, December 1 thru Sunday, December 3, and visitors will be able to vote for their favorite tree during their regular business hours or online at www.RotaryLightsofKindness.org.

Winning trees will be announced on Monday, December 4 at 7:00 p.m.

For more information and photos of winning trees: https://www.rotarylightsofkindness.org/