Friends -

Four years ago, I had an idea to try to bring some light and cheer to a community that needed it here in Hartford. It had been an incredibly tough year battling against a global pandemic, and I wanted to show appreciation for frontline workers and bring a few smiles to a struggling neighborhood.

So we went to work raising the money to put holiday lights on the South Green in Hartford. It sits at a key crossroads, right next to one of the city’s biggest homeless shelters and a block away from Hartford Hospital. The project was a big hit, and we’ve done it again every year since.

My hope today is you’re up to help us do it once again this year. Will you please consider making a contribution to our South Green holiday lights fund? We’re partnering once again with the local Spanish American Merchants Association as our sponsoring non-profit, and 100% of your donation at this link will go toward our holiday cheer effort.

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Every year, countless people tell me how much the lights mean to them. It may seem like a little thing, but in an often-forgotten neighborhood like South Green, a little holiday spirit goes a long way. You can see a small glimpse of how magical it looks below.

Photo credit: Mark Mirko / Hartford Courant

Remember the major holiday light displays in your town that made you so wide-eyed as a kid? Remember how that made you feel? That’s why we started to light up the South Green to turn it into a marvel of sparkle and twinkle. This small effort picks people up, and it tells kids in often tough circumstances that we value them and they deserve joy too.

But I can’t do this without you. It costs money to put up this many lights. My handiwork doesn’t extend beyond a simple tree. So the professionals are standing by ready to put the lights up as soon as we fund the project, and your small contribution makes this possible.

If you can afford it, consider making a donation today to help us light the trees on the South Green in Hartford. Every dollar will go directly toward bringing a bit more light into the lives of others this season.

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Seeing the sparks in kids’ eyes and the smiles on their faces when they see lights is a reminder that the whimsical, silly things matter too. For families facing tough times, health care workers after a tough day, and housing insecure individuals, this is something that can bring joy. And I think we could all use a bit more of that right now.

Thank you for pitching in if you can. I hope you and your loved ones have a joyful and safe holiday season.

Every best wish,

Chris Murphy

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