The holiday season is upon us and with it one of Central New York’s most glowing traditions: the annual Crouse Hospital Auxiliary Lights of Love campaign.
Each of the 3,000 lights on the iconic Crouse clock tower is illuminated, representing gifts — given in honor or in memory of someone — that will support the hospital’s ability to provide comprehensive medical services and programs for the community.
The lights traditionally begin to glow during a lighting ceremony held the Monday evening following Thanksgiving. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on public gatherings, this year’s clock tower lighting ceremony will be held virtually. Donors are invited to participate in this holiday tradition from the comfort of home or office via a special Zoom link emailed to those who contribute to the campaign.
“This year’s campaign is focused on small gestures,” says Janet Izzo, a local attorney who is the Lights of Love chairwoman. “Before COVID-19 changed our world, many of us felt we didn’t have the time or energy to extend ourselves to others with small gestures that are at the core of common courtesy. Small gestures extended by physicians, providers and staff comprise the foundation of the Crouse culture, and we are always thankful for our contact with them.”
Eighteen months into the pandemic, the hospital continues to experience increasing emergency department patient volumes, as the community has become more familiar and more comfortable with the safety measures put in place at the beginning of the pandemic. As the “front door” to the hospital, staff continue to see increasing cardiac and stroke related admissions through the Pomeroy Emergency Services Department. Because of this great need, proceeds from this year’s Lights of Love campaign will benefit ongoing patient care and safety initiatives for patients and staff, as they continue to monitor and adapt to changing COVID-19 protocols while serving the community with the best emergency services.
Those making the campaign possible this year are: sponsor: Bottar Law Firm, PLLC; patrons: Kimberly, Charlie and Henry Boynton, Connie Bull, William G. Pomeroy Foundation, Frank C. Smith, MD; friends: David and Cheryl Abrams, Cathy J. Berry MD & Associates, Carrie Berse and Chris Skeval, Creative Florists, King & King Architects, PLLC, Michael and Elizabeth O’Connor; in-kind donors: Avalon and Lamar Advertising Company.
The 2021 Lights of Love committee members are Janet Izzo, chairwoman, Robin Ascioti and Jeri Gallauresi.
To purchase lights on the clock tower, visit crouse.org/lights.