St. Thomas, V. I. - The United Way of St. Thomas-St. John is offering a way for island residents to count their blessings during this holiday season with the “Celebration of Life Lights.” For only a $5.00 donation, each contributor will have one Christmas bulb illuminated on a special display of lights during the holidays in Educator’s Park. Each light will signify a donor’s expression of his/her concern and caring for a loved one or honor the memory of someone dear.

"The Celebration of Life Lights event was initiated by United Way just after Hurricane Marilyn in 1995,” explained United Way campaign chair Susan Laura Lugo, “as a visible symbol of our community’s strength, unity and resilience. This year - more than ever after the events of September 11th - we feel the Celebration of Life Lights will have a very special meaning for everyone,” she said.

Angelika Balkarran, special events chair, said that the students of the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School’s stage design class, under the direction of Mr. Alrid Lockhart, have been hard at work constructing frames for the lights to underscore the Campaign 2002 theme of “Give Hope a Hand.” She added that there will be a ceremony in Grand Hotel Square on December 14 at 6:00 p.m. to turn on the lights and illuminate the park with a dramatic and visible Celebration of Life.
Tickets for this fundraiser may be obtained from any United Way board member or through the United Way office above Mr. Tablecloth on Main Street. For more information, call 774-3185.

The United Way supports the following 17 local, human service agencies: American Red Cross, V.I. Council of Boy Scouts of America, Carabana Ensemble Theater Company, Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands, Civil Air Patrol, Downstreet People’s Youth in Action, Dial-A-Ride St. John, Dial-A-Ride St. Thomas, Ebenezer Gardens, Fair Haven Camp, Friends of Volunteers in Public Schools, Girl Scout Council, Legal Services of the Virgin Islands, Lutheran Reformation Summer Program, St. Thomas Reformed Church Summer Program, Shaky Acres, and Victim Advocate Program.