Lights on The Lake

The traditions you create and carry on with your friends and family make the holidays an extra special time of the year. Remember when you were growing up, what a thrill it was to bundle up in your hat, scarf and mittens, pile in the car with your family and drive around your neighborhood delighting in all of the holiday lights? Heartspring continues that tradition with Lights on the Lake, creating a holiday light spectacular for all ages to enjoy.

Since Lights on the Lake opened as a Drive Thru in 2005, tens of thousands of light enthusiasts have marveled at the 37-acres of displays, and selflessly donated to help children with special needs served by Heartspring.

In addition to the Drive Thru, which features hundreds of thousands of lights, over 70 displays, 100 candy canes that stand 10 feet tall, and their signature 45 foot tree of lights overlooking the Heartspring Lake, visitors are encouraged to stop by the Lights on the Lake Hospitality Center where they can get some holiday treats, warm drinks and have their photo taken with Santa for a $5 donation. You can also honor the special people in your life by purchasing a special candy cane pin-up card at the Hospitality Center or go online at http://www.lightsonthelake.org to send an eCard.

By being a part of Lights on the Lake you not only create holiday memories with those you love, you give the gift of hope to hundreds of children with special needs. Your donation to Heartspring provides necessary therapies to children through the Financial Assistance Program. Children like five-year-old Christian. According to Christian’s parents, Marilea and Dave, the journey with Christian has been tough. Because he looks like typical five-year-old, it has been a challenge to try to explain to others why he doesn’t act like typical five-year-old.

Diagnosed with global developmental delays, Christian receives physical, occupational and speech therapies at Heartspring.

"(Christian’s therapists) have partnered up with us in order to help us raise our son," said Marilea. "Heartspring 

always rely on to give Christian what he needed to constantly be working towards being a better little boy."

Marilea and Dave have one simple goal for Christian and that is for him to know that he is loved.

"We never want him to feel inadequate for his disabilities," Marilea said. "He has been made special and we really hope in the end he understands and believes that."

When Christian’s dad was laid off, his parents needed help in order to keep Christian in therapy. The Heartspring Financial Assistance Program enabled him to do just that.

"Every time Christian reaches a goal or does something he has been working so hard to do for weeks or months, I shed a tear as his mom know how hard those accomplishments are for him, but I also shed a tear wishing those that give to Heartspring understood the impact they have on the rest of his life," said Marilea. "Heartspring has been the foundation for him. I can’t imagine how much he would have regressed not having this place to come for help."

Having Christian has taught his family an important lesson. "He has taught us what really counts in life; to laugh with deep belly laughs, love more, stress less and continue learning how to help those we love the very best we can," said Marilea.

Last year, Heartspring provided close to $210,000 in discounted therapies and scholarships as a result of events like Lights on the Lake to families who needed it the most.