Beaufort Hospital News Release
The 26th-annual Lights of Love tree-lighting ceremony at Beaufort Hospital takes place at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The public is invited to attend the event, which will occur in front of the hospital at 628 E. 12th St. in Washington and then move indoors.
The celebration will feature musical entertainment by the John Cotton Tayloe Elementary School Chorus and the St. John Church of Christ Men’s Choir. There will be a special appearance by Santa Claus, and children will have the opportunity to share their Christmas wishes and have their picture taken with him free of charge.
Part of the Lights of Love tradition is the annual children’s art contest. Each year, Beaufort County students in kindergarten through fifth grade are invited to participate. Prizes are awarded for first, second and third places from each grade. One entry will be selected as best in show — providing the artwork for the hospital’s Christmas card for the following year. All contest entries are displayed in the hospital’s main hallway through the end of the year.
Lights of Love was established in 1986 as a means for members of the community to celebrate or remember a loved one during the holiday season. Today, Lights of Love is a year-round project that allows generations of individuals and families to give back to Beaufort Hospital while commemorating a variety of creative and traditional events. Donations to Lights of Love are used to fund projects that promote health-care education, improve community wellness, support and enhance patient care and provide amenities that make the hospital more comfortable for patients and visitors.
For a minimum tax-deductible contribution of $5 or more, one can honor or remember a special person in his or her life with a light that will shine on the Lights of Love tree.