Lights Of Love Tribute Returns To Ripon Medical Center

The Ripon Medical Center Associates, Inc. have the festivities in motion for its 26th annual “Lights of Love” program, a living memorial or tribute to friends, relatives or dedicated citizens of the community.

A special lighting ceremony, which is open to the public, is scheduled at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 11 at the Mount Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 320 Mount Zion Drive in Ripon.

A 40-foot tree located on Ripon Medical Center property on the east side of Metomen street across from the hospital will display both white and colored lights, representing memorial and honorary remembrances respectively.

“Please join us for this celebratory evening,” according to Karen Gross, RMC Volunteer Services coordinator. “It’s a touching time, knowing we are honoring and remembering loved ones through cheerful lights, words and music. It’s a time of reflection and joy and, for many of us, it signals the true beginning of the holiday season.”

The event will feature a brief program with holiday carols sung by the church choir, under the direction of Kathy Schaub, and the public. Refreshments will be served by the Ladies Aid.

The lights are available for a suggested donation of $5 per designation, and proceeds from this year’s project will help to sponsor an item to enhance the healing environment at the new Ripon Medical Center, scheduled to open in fall/winter 2014.

Lights of Love brochures, including donation forms, are available to share with friends and neighbors at the Ripon Medical Center Greeter’s Station and Center Shoppe.

The Lights of Love project also includes a raffle, which features three gift baskets filled with a variety of gift certificates and cards donated by area businesses for golf, movies, bowling, dining and general entertainment, valued at $575, $475 and $375. Tickets are $5 each or five for $20. Tickets are available at the hospital’s Greeter’s Station and Center Shoppe.

Baskets are available for viewing in Ripon Medical Center Registration. The winning entries will be drawn at the tree lighting ceremony; need not be present to win.

For more information, contact Gross at (920) 748-0451.