King of Kings’ fundraiser assists area charities

Local organizers of a holiday lights event that took place in Phalen Park announced last week that their endeavor raised $50,000 for St. Paul-area charities.

Members of King of Kings Church in Woodbury began the process for planning the first-ever “Holiday Lights in the Park” more than a year ago during a brainstorming session on how to raise more money for local charities like Second Harvest and Union Gospel Mission.

The group then hooked up with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers to put on the drive-thru holiday lights event, which, in total, drew nearly 11,000 automobiles in December.

“Holiday Lights in the Park” organizers are now calling the event, which featured dozens of holiday lights installations (totaling over one million lights) along a trail at Phalen Park in east St. Paul, a success.

In addition to Second Harvest and Union Gospel Mission, the St. Paul Parks Conservancy Foundation and Under Construction, will receive some of the $50,000 in funds raised by the event.

Under Construction is a student group affiliated with Johnson High School in east St. Paul that teaches youth about the construction trades and allows them to explore the possibilities of a construction career.

Event organizers at King of Kings Church in Woodbury have said their goal is to make the Holiday Lights in the Park and annual event to raise money for charities in the area.

For more information about the Holiday Lights in the Park event go to: http://lightsinthepark.org

Tags: news, kings, woodbury, phalen, holiday, lights, fundraiser, charities