24th Annual Lights of Love Tree Lighting Ceremony

Great. And how often have you come to the lights of love?

Well, this is actually, I've been with the organization for 14 months.

So I was three months into my position last year just joining Aspirus into this community.

It would have been my first last year. So this being the 24th year will be my second time.

Wonderful. So can you tell us a little bit about what inspired this project in our community?

Yeah. So it really predates Aspirus. Far predates me. But in 2001, the riverview hospital

auxiliary started an event and not just intended to be a potential fundraiser where they could apply

those funds to areas of need, especially for our patients. But it was also intended to remember

our loved ones. And actually, you know, each one of these respective lights, as we light up the

trees for lights of love, it really is an opportunity to remember our loved ones and those that are

actually currently battling some maybe challenging conditions and keep them close to us during

the holidays. So was the auxiliary intent on just having a way to memorialize or did they

originally intend this to be a fundraiser as well? I think it was a little both. But what I would

venture to guess is that they wouldn't have anticipated this would go 24 years strong and now being

picked up by the Aspirus Wisconsin Rapids Foundation. And then our volunteers who have just

really generously donated their time to keep this tradition going. 24 years strong is a long time

and a lot of funds to apply back to a lot of community needs. So it's really been exceptional and

probably exceeded their vision. And so what are those funds that you're raising used for?

Yeah. So it's a combination of items. Funds raised through lights of love support, patient

assistance programs, helping those with need and comfort care, critical services like behavioral

health, cancer support, some food insecurity. They've been applied to a large range of patient

needs. That's wonderful. And do you have any idea about how many patients over the years have

been helped with this? I do not. Over the course of 24 years. That's a lot. What the number would be

pretty substantial. Yes. Was there any imagining about we're going to be hitting our 25th anniversary

next year? This year's kind of our prep for how to do that. Are there any special plans in the

works for next year? Or are we just trying to get let's get tonight done? And then let's start

looking at next year. So I think just some great company this evening, a little fellowship and

then to your point, probably having a discussion about what 25 years for lights of love will look

like next year and we'll try to make it an extra special event. And I know it's grown over the

last 24 years and it's moved locations. So what has been the most exciting part about watching

that growth over the last 24 years? Well, I can only acknowledge the last year and from the last

year, it's a lack of snow, no wind and I'm not nearly as cold. So it's about a wonderful transition

this year. We are blessed this year. Absolutely. We've had sleep. We've had snow. We've had cold and

tonight is almost the perfect night to do it. There's that chill in the air. Christmas is coming.

Thanksgiving is next week. And to be able to watch these lights come up to remember those who might

not be with us to celebrate the holidays this year. What a wonderful gift. And I will say last year

a joking side did not deter people from coming and celebrating with us and we anticipate even more

this today. That's wonderful. So if you are looking for something fun to do this evening, we encourage

you to come out. Join us. It is a wonderful tradition. You are not going to want to miss it. The

cookies have just arrived. So we're going to have some cookies for you as well. Come on out. Enjoy

the fellowship. We're going to turn it back over to the station now and be back with Chris in just

a little bit. Thank you. Hello, everyone. We are at Aspirus, Wisconsin Rapids Riverview Hospital.

This is Beth, your host, your listening to WFHR. And I am sitting with Chris Squire. And Chris,

you are in the upper echelon of the hospital in the administration. So can you share with us a

little bit about the mission of the hospital and how that connects with what we're doing tonight?

Yeah, so regardless of position, we all try to live our mission within the Aspirus organization.

And I will tell you our mission. We heal people. We promote health and strengthen communities.

But I would think of that a little more broadly that a lot of people think you come to a hospital

or health care just within crisis and you have a dire acute need tied specifically to your health

that day. But I would argue that we're with you for longer than that. We're with you to meet all

your needs. And that includes really celebrating and remembering those that we may have lost.

We currently love or that we still have hope for. So our mission extends beyond just simply

caring for you and acute crisis. We like to think that events like this are really critical

for us to connect to our patients. And what tonight represents in remembering those that we may

have loved and lost to cancer in particular or maybe to another disease. It's a good reminder that

even preventative care is important care and that this is a wonderful place to be able to come to

help us stay healthy and maybe prevent us from some of those diseases. Absolutely. We'd love to

see people in a preventative way in our clinics. We'd rather not see you hospitalized. So if it

all possible, please make sure you set up that appointment with your provider and continue to follow

through on a year over year checkups. Really is critical. Absolutely. So what's the vision for

the hospital? So the Aspirus vision. We say we're a catalyst for creating healthy thriving communities

trusted and engaged above all others. And again, I would tell you consistent with how I explained

our mission. It's not just for those in crisis or with acute needs. It's also being able to

connect to community events like this where Aspirus plays a role. Wonderful. And that shows the values

that the Aspirus has. And in particular, five values. We have compassion, accountability,

collaboration, foresight, and joy. A couple stick out of particular associated with this event.

Everyone is compassion. You know, that empathy and being able to spend time with those that

want to carry a memory of somebody else, but then also joy. You celebrate them in life, and you

also celebrate their memory. So it's really critical, again, that we continue to participate in events

such as lights of love. And being able to host something like this for the community is a

wonderful way to live out those mission values as well. Absolutely. Come and agree more.

Well, thank you for that. And are there other ways that you participate in the community that

allow us to be a part of the values? Yes. Some of the other ways. A lot of our staff volunteer

a lot of our leadership staff volunteer throughout the community. We do that pretty frequently.

You know, we try to demonstrate how we meet community need outside of just caring for people in

the walls of our hospital and also the clinic. So we really spend a lot of time fulfilling that

mission and other capacities, not just in our formal capacity within, you know, for example,

leadership role or what else we do within the walls of the hospital. So a lot of volunteerism,

we think it's critical and we try to demonstrate that ongoing need, especially as a not-for-profit.

It's critical that we continue to show people why we have that not-for-profit status.

And the community is grateful for that. And especially for events like this that offer not

just an opportunity to see the lights and do the memory, but even have some fellowship with one

another. Are there other opportunities that the hospital gives to the community to just spend some

time together? As far as community-based events, I would have to go look, I know that we have a

long list when we kind of complete our annual report associated with how we charitable give back,

but those community events, I think this is one of our primary events on an annual basis.

So this is the one we just continue to celebrate year over year.

And we as a community appreciate that. So if you're looking for a fun thing to do tonight,

come on out. You can ask some questions, enjoy some fellowship. Cookies. Cookies are here.

They're looking good. They're not set quite set out quite yet, but

you first come first, so from what I understand. Absolutely. So the sooner you get here,

you're going to have a better eye sight of the lights when they come on. And it's a great

chance to just celebrate the holidays and the coming together family. And we thank Aspirus for

this opportunity. Start the season. Thank you, Beth. It is. What a great way to kick off the season.

This is Beth. Thank you for being with us. I'm with Chris Skryer. This is WFHR. Thank you for

listening. Come on down to Aspirus, Wisconsin Rapids, Riverview Hospital, and join us for the

lights of love. I'm going to send it back to Seth at the studio for a little bit more Christmas music.

Gotta make it to town. This is Beth at WFHR. We are at lights of love at Wisconsin Rapids,

Riverview Hospital. Aspirus, Wisconsin Rapids Riverview Hospital. And I am sitting here with someone who

does a lot for our community. It is one of our teachers. This is Cindy Bates. She is the

co-director of the third through fifth grade Grove School Choir, who will be performing as part of

the ceremony at 530. So stick around and listen to that ceremony. How are you doing this evening?

Oh, I'm doing fantastic. Thank you for asking. Thank you for being here. What is your favorite part

about being a teacher? The curiosity of the children. Okay. I always have something to ask.

You never know what's going to happen. And it's so much fun. Great. How many years have you been

teaching? 21. Wow. And over that 21 years, how many students do you think you've taught?

Well, as a music teacher, I have hundreds of students every year. Yes, you do. So I have no idea.

That is why I didn't go into math. Well, there you go. What did lead you into music as your focus

of education? I've always enjoyed singing when I was younger and I played in instrument.

And I always thought that babysitting was fun and teaching children how to do things

just through play. And I thought if I could mix music and play together,

that seems like a music teacher thing and elementary schools where I'm where I belong.

Was that always where you wanted to be? Absolutely. Absolutely. So what lessons do you get from

the students that you're teaching? You just never know what they're going to come up with.

So at any moment in time, when you think you have everything all figured out, you have all of your

lessons all put together in the music plan, someone comes up with an idea that might even be better

than yours. And how are you able to incorporate that into your teaching then? I just switch it

immediately and I just say, let's go for it. Let's try it. And I think that's a lot of fun.

Is there a way that you incorporate the children in deciding what music that you're going to teach?

Or sometimes, sometimes I give them choices about the things that we're working on or we might take

a vote on something that we're working on, gives them a little bit more feeling like they kind of

ownership over some of the lessons. I think that gives them something unique to do in the music room.

Can you share with us the piece of music that they'll be performing tonight? We would like to

perform Jingle Bells and we wish you a Merry Christmas. We just wanted to do the standards that people

would know and maybe kind of give them that holiday spirit start here before Thanksgiving. How

excited are the kids right now? They cannot wait. They've been talking about it since last week.

Well, we are excited to have them here. So great to hear those young voices and get them started

early and hopefully they'll continue with the music as they go on. That's right. Thank you for being

a teacher and thank you for going into elementary teaching. Absolutely. That's a special kind of

gift. So we really appreciate that. Oh, no problem. And we do encourage the community to come out to

lights of love at Aspires. Wisconsin Rapids Riverview Hospital. Come here. These wonderful fur

through fifth graders. The energy. I'm sure that they're bringing is just going to inspire you to

have a wonderful Thanksgiving and holiday season. You know, the choirs actually been invited to this

event for the last few years. And I think that means that every time the students join choir,

the older students tell the younger students about what they experienced. And it's really built.

It's built a special bond with this event. We appreciate it. And we appreciate having you here.

Thank you for all that you do. And I can't wait to hear these kids and see their excitement and

just the light in their faces is almost going to match the lights on the trees. They cannot wait

to share music with you. Well, thank you for being here. This is absolutely. We were speaking

with Cindy Bates, who is the co-director of the third through fifth grade growth school choir.

And we're grateful to have her here. And you're listening to WFHR. Come on out and join us for

lights of love at Aspires. Wisconsin Rapids Riverview Hospital. We're going to turn it back to

the set at this station for a little bit more music.

It's all cold there while the beach winds whipping down the water walk.

Hey man! You guys know what time it is. Hello everybody. This is Beth with WFHR. We are out at

lights of love at Aspires. Wisconsin Rapids Riverview Hospital. And I am now being joined by some

sixth grade teachers with the language arts. Can you introduce yourself for us and let the audience

know who you are? Yeah, I'm Amanda Mantic. Can I teach the sixth grade ELA?

And I'm Cara Johnson. And I sometimes co-teacher there where I have another sixth grade ELA class.

So I'm asking this of all of my teachers because I think what you do is phenomenal and thank

you for being teachers in our community and in the context that we have. So how many years have

each of you been teaching? Six, seven. Wow. And how do we, oh gosh, I just got that.

For those at home who aren't familiar, there's a mean that the kids are really in two

called six, seven. And they just beautifully did that for us here. So I'm sure there are kids out

there moving their hands up and down. So thank you for that. Bit of humor as well. How do the kids

inspire you as you teach? Well, actually, like they're sense of humor. So go on off like things like

six, seven. They're sense of humor. Like they're positivity in the classroom really inspires me.

That's actually my favorite part of the job is just creating that relationship with them so that

I can joke around with them. They can joke around with me throughout the school year. That's what I

think inspires me the most. In addition to that, I would say their creativeness, the energy that they

have and bring and the resilience that they show. So what lessons does this event connect to

and you're teaching in English? How, how were they inspired to write the essays that they're

going to be sharing tonight? So we actually just finished up our unit called the power of the pen.

So why words matter? We've talked about being part of a community. And we also have presenters coming

in December from people in the community that have jobs in our community. And so they can just

see how everyone is just part of a community throughout this unit.

In addition, we have a RPT each morning. And so our kids, you know, helping them see the community

that they have at school and being able to branch out from that. So can you share with the community

what RPT is? It's Rams Pride time. So it's either time for social emotional learning activities,

that team building, that community building, or time to work on homework.

And are they able to use that time then to kind of work on this stuff? Do you have

you worked with them throughout the RPTs? Or do you take any class time to work with them on this?

Yeah, this essay was all done in our class. Each student had to write one. And then we chose

like 12 or 13 out of those that we thought stood out and then sent them to Aspirus. And they

chose the top three. So yeah, we took a lot of class time to do it.

So do the kids submit them? Or do you just from what you've been given by all of your students

choose 12 from there? We did give the kids the option that if they absolutely did not want to be

considered for this, if they were afraid of speaking in front of people that they just had to make

a note. Honestly, it was very few kids who had made that note not too. So we looked through

all we each have roughly around 75 students. So we went through all 75 of those and picked

what we felt were the strongest essays. How did you help prepare them to be able to be here to

read these essays? Well, I mean, we definitely just like talked through with them like the one

that I have come and she was super super super nervous. But as I talked to her about it and just

like said, like, what's going to happen? Who's going to be there? Things like that? She definitely

now is like way more excited to be here about it. So speaking is one of the skills that we work on

in English language arts and throughout everything that we do that kids write different things. And

then they take turns presenting that in front of the class. So we've done some speaking as well with

them working up to this. Thank you again for all that you do and for helping these kids and for

bringing them here, we can't wait to hear what they've written and hear them speak with us.

And if you'd like to do that, come on down to Aspirus, Wisconsin Rapids Review Hospital for

Lutz of Love. We'll be bringing you that ceremony at 5.30. We'll be having the choir and the kids

reading their essays as that. This is Beth with WFHR. We're going to take it back to the studio for a

little bit more music. Hello, everyone. This is Beth from Aspirus, Wisconsin

Riverview Hospital on WFHR. We are here at Lutz of Love. We are right by the expressway. If you

want to come join us, you're going to come to parking lot one and walk around towards where the

helicopter pad is. As you come around the corner, you're going to see the cookies are here,

there are people building, the lights are going to be coming on in just a little while. The

ceremony is at 5.30. So you still have time to come out and join us. But right now joining me,

I have Ryan Lone. Can you share with us what your position is with the hospital? Absolutely. So

it's great to be here. My name is Ryan Lone and I'm the Chief Administrative Officer here at

the hospital. So I'm responsible for the operations. Well, thank you for being here. So what goes

into choosing a location here for Lutz of Love? First and foremost, just a lot of hard work,

planning. I'm very fortunate to have a great team. We have a great team in general here at

the hospital. So there are individuals like Ann Marie that have just over the last several

months poured a lot into this. And my job is actually pretty easy. I just listen and take suggestions

and they make this all happen. And so from what you've shared with me kind of behind the scenes,

you're rather new to this position with the hospital. I am very new. I started end of June.

Okay. So new to the position, new to the area and new to Wisconsin. Where did you come from then?

We actually moved here from Hawaii. What? Yeah. So you can't get much different of a culture shop

than that, right? Climate difference? Climate difference. My first winter in Wisconsin,

although I have four children and we got some snow yesterday and they had their first snowball fight.

Oh wow. Which has been amazing. So they're getting to know the atmosphere. How have you been

able to get to know the community? You know, I think first and foremost, just through the hospital,

the people that are here connecting with them, getting to know them, getting to know what they

enjoy doing. And then slowly but surely kind of going out and connecting through those sources.

I'm starting to get involved with some community organizations like United Way. So this coming

year, I'll be serving on that board. So looking for ways to give back, looking for ways to connect

and just trying to take advantage of that. And you've been able to do that by being a part of this.

How has your involvement been with this specific event with the hospital lights of love?

Again, great team. A lot of preparation went into this. This event. It's the first time I'm

getting to experience it. I've heard wonderful things about it. It's a very meaningful event.

I mean, everything that we do here at the hospital revolves around people. Whether it's our patients,

our community and the only way that we can serve our community and our patients is through our

people. So yeah, just a really meaningful event and I'm honored to be here tonight.

Well, we're glad to have you with us. Again, we want to invite people to come on out to meet Ryan

here. So he can meet more of the community and to participate in this, the lights of love.

Each light represents someone who we have loved, maybe lost or maybe is currently fighting cancer.

And it's a great way to just celebrate the holidays and remember that these people are with us

in our hearts and in our community. So come on out. Again, you're going to want to park in parking lot

one. Come around the corner towards the hello pad. We've got some cookies. We're going to be

hearing from a choir and some essays. It is an event you are not going to want to miss.

It's going to kick off at 5.30 is the ceremony. So there's still time to come join us.

This is Beth and we're going to send it back to the station for a little bit with WFHR.

Jingle Bells Wing and Jingle Bells Wing.

Coming to you live from Aspirus, Wisconsin Rapids, Riverview Hospital and the lights of love.

We're going to be having the ceremony coming up at 5.30. If you want to come join us,

there is still time to make your way to parking lot number one.

You're going to come around the front of the hospital and around the corner towards the hello pad.

We've got a group that's starting here and we're going to get to see these lights come up.

I am being joined by Ryan. I want to make sure is it Lone? Lone. Lone. Thank you.

I have one of those names that's hard to pronounce too. So it's always good to double check that.

So he is the CEO. CEO. CEO here at the hospital and so as we look at this event and what's going

on at the hospital, where are some of the new things that you are bringing here to the hospital?

Sure. As you can imagine at a busy place like a hospital, there are always new and exciting

things going on. We're constantly looking for ways to invest in our people so we can better serve

the community. I really just wanted to highlight again everything that we do revolves around how we

can best serve our community and it starts with our people. So we're very fortunate to have good

partnerships with our local educational institutions like Mid-State Technical College and

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point through both of them and their training programs and nursing

and imaging techs and laboratory assistants were able to create a pipeline a talent to make

sure we have the clinical staff to serve those needs. The other area is we've put a lot of effort

into recruiting providers making sure we have physicians that are going to be able to kind of

serve into the future. A lot of focus on primary care and then with that primary care base,

it's important that we surround them with a good specialty network. So a lot of emphasis there.

And there's a lot of balls that you have in the air that you have to manage. How is that going

for you as you're coming into this position? I think good. I am very fortunate on my team and just

here at the hospital in general we have great leaders, great staff, great clinical team.

So I really stepped into a good situation. The team does all the work and I'm just trying to

look for opportunities to make recommendations on how to improve moving forward.

And this event is a prime example of how you have a wonderful team that puts it together.

Amory has been great about coordinating things and this has been an event that's been happening

for 24 years and over those 24 years has raised quite a bit of money. How much did you raise this

year for this event? Yeah, this year I'm proud to say you know through all that work we were able

to raise over $9,000. Wow. So yeah really really good, really exciting and you know with with that

money we're able to reinvest in our patient assistance fund. So historically most of those

dollars that we raised were used in our cancer center and specifically for patients with cancer.

But as this has evolved and as we've kind of evolved we now are able to prioritize those

dollars and use them in the areas that have high need. So in addition to cancer care we've

used some of the money that we've raised in behavioral health. There's a huge community need there

so we've been able to expand and support our behavioral health program. Pediatrics making sure

the kiddos have good care. So it's really just taken off and continued to grow.

It's a wonderful thing that you do for the community. We are grateful to have it. If you haven't yet

consider coming on down to the lights of love. The ceremony is going to begin at 530. Come on down

to parking lot 1. Come around the corner towards the expressway. We've got a crowd starting to come

together. We've got cookies that are getting getting set out and ready for us to be able to

celebrate. Ryan is there anything that I haven't asked anything that you want to make sure that

our listeners know about? No I think we covered all the important stuff like you said we encourage

the community to come out and join us. It'd be great to see you here tonight and I'm just really

happy to be here. Well thank you for joining us and we do encourage our community to come on out.

Join us here at Aspirus, Wisconsin Rapids Riverview. It's a whole new way to say it so we're all

getting used to that. Here in Wisconsin Rapids we're right beside the expressway. We're going to

be turning those lights on as part of the ceremony that starts at 530. You can come on down in person

or continue listening to us here on WFHR. We're going to turn it back over to Seth at the station for a

little bit more Christmas music. This is Beth with WFHR. We are at Wisconsin Rap,

Wisconsin Rapids Riverview Hospital. We are here for the lights of love ceremony that will be

starting in just a few minutes at 530. There's still time to come on out and join us. We just got

the report. There were more than 1,500 lights. Each light represents a loved one who would

leave either lost or is battling cancer. If you come on down park and parking lot one and walk

towards the expressway you'll be able to see the wonderful lights come around and find where we

are at our canopy. We've got some cookies here. We want to thank Solaris for providing that and I'm

sitting with Reverend Milt Vanetta with Baker Street Wesleyan Church and you do a lot of

collaborations with Aspirus and with the community. Can you share some of those with us? We'd

love to talk in particular about our collaboration with Aspirus. Beginning in 2015 we were engaged in

a ministry in which we annually sent a large sea container of compassion goods to Zambia and from

that first year on we have had a partnership here with Aspirus. Gently use hospital beds,

things like that, all sorts of things that we've sent because Aspirus donated them to us

that now in real health clinics in the hospital at Zambia those things are being used and

lives are being touched in incredible ways and ways that we can't even begin to imagine.

And so I want to thank Aspirus for their community mindedness, their civic engagement

with folks like us. I know we're far from the only ones and I just feel very thankful that we have

a hospital in our community that has that not only community mindedness but global mindedness.

Thank you for sharing that with us. I don't know that many people would know that the hospital

also provides that and allows those beds to kind of have a second life and help others

outside of our community to continue to be a service to people in the world. So thank you for

sharing that. Yeah, just this last year there were some Sophos sleepers from the hospital rooms

like family members would use when they were staying overnight. Those were sent over to a new

university that's being built there in Zambia and some of the nursing students, that's one of the

first things they're going to do is do nurses are going to have those in their dorm rooms. So

it's just that huge impact that's hard to even measure Beth. Right, what a wonderful thing to do

to have some comfort was your studying so that you can be as rested and alert as possible.

Well, thank you for that. Yeah, we are here at Lights of Love at Wisconsin Aspirus with

Johnson Rathids Riverview Hospital. You are invited to come join us. We are going to be starting

the ceremony in just a few more minutes. We are at parking lot number one head towards the express

way down by the intersection where the light is and come check it out. We're going to get going

and just a little bit better. I'm going to have Seth play one more song for us here on WFHR.

Hello everyone. This is Beth with WFHR. We are at Aspirus with Johnson Rathids Riverview

Hospital for the Lights of Love ceremony. We are going to turn it on over now to

look at my program here and Chris is going to leave us into the start of our tree lighting ceremony.

Yes, a good evening and welcome to the 2025 Aspirus with Johnson Rathids Lights of Love

Tree Lighting Ceremony. My name is Chris Squire. I'm the president of Aspirus with Johnson

Rathids Hospital. This is my honor and privilege to share a few opening remarks for the ceremony

this evening. First and foremost, we have the Riverview Hospital auxiliary to thank for establishing

this tradition 24 years ago, a tradition that is now supported by the broader community of which

we serve. Lights of Love celebrates our loved ones through the purchase of lights in their memory

and honor. All proceeds are used by Aspirus Foundation to support initiatives focused on our

community's greatest health needs, including substance abuse, behavioral mental health, nutrition,

and cancer. Lighting the simplest form stimulates

sight and makes things more visible. One can also think of light as a metaphor that can represent

knowledge, understanding, love, and personal growth. I believe in honoring those who have

illuminated our path to this point so that we can share our comprehensive knowledge,

our nuanced understanding, our unconditional love, and collective growth to further strengthen

our community. Please remember and appreciate what lights your path moving forward.

We're fortunate to have the foundation proudly carry on the lights of Love's ceremony.

Aspirus and myself remain humbled by our good fortune to continue serving and supporting

the Wisconsin Rapids community. Thank you.

We're an attorney over now for a blessing with the past and note, Danetta.

Would you all please share a word of prayer with me tonight,

Heavenly Father, each one of these lights represents someone that we care about and someone

who is loved by someone here. Whether it represents those who have passed on or whether it is those

who are walking with through a season of cancer. For those of us who have lost someone, Father,

would you give us comfort and hope? For those who are walking with someone we love through this

season of cancer. Would you please give us strength and perseverance? Would you be with us for

we need you tonight and we need you always in Jesus' name. Amen.

Again, you are listening to the lights of Love,

Trilighting Ceremony and we are now going to hear some student essays from some sixth graders

at Rams. So I invite up to the microphone our third place essay, Peter,

Porter, Shupac. Did I get that right? Second time. Good.

All right. Gifts don't need wrapping. They can be words warm and true and every small action

a ripple begins. Valor shows up quietly, like picking up trash with full hands.

I can't. Invisible. Thank you. Invisible kindness still leaves visible change. Not all heroes were

badges, but some are safety patrol. Grateful hearts echo louder than megaphones. To give is to let go,

not to hold tight. On sidewalks, helping hands becomes ridges. Trust grows when we show up,

not just to speak up. Hope lives in the homeless shelters. I dream of building. Every compliment is a

spark in someone's storm. Community means we all carry the light even when it's heavy. One person's

effort can rewrite someone's day. My hands may be full, but my heart still gives.

Thank you very much. Let's give him some support. They come for that.

And now we're going to hear from Carter Blade. Giving in the community means using what you have,

your time, effort or kindness. To make life better for others, it's about noticing when someone

needs help and actually doing something about it. Whether it's donate and clothes, helping out of

full driver just being there for a friend who's struggling. Giving shows that you care. It's not

about getting something back, but always knowing you made a difference, even in a small way.

When people give, it creates a bond that makes the community stronger. Everyone starts to feel

more connected and supported, like they're part of something bigger. It reminds us that we all need

each other. Sometimes and that the world gets a little better when we choose to share what we have,

even when one kind action can inspire others to do the same. And before you know it,

kindness spreads like a chain reaction. Giving also changes the person who gives

it builds empathy, gratitude and purpose. When you give from the heart, you realize that real happiness

doesn't come from what you get, it comes from what you give. Communities not just go from buildings

or money, but from wealth and care people put into them. Giving is what turns a group of people into a family.

Thank you. Well done. Well done Carter. And our first place essay is Morath Steven. All right.

We're going to make sure you have that right. We're going to keep listening to these essays as part of

the Trilating ceremony for Whites of Love on WFHR. In our neighborhood, in our neighborhood where

people play, I love to have them around small ways. With a hand to that help and a heart so free,

giving to others means so much to me. We clean up the streets and help break the leaves,

sharing toys and books with a small, with a smile and a breeze. When we work together side by side,

we build up our town and spread joy wide. From baking cookies for an able to eat

to visiting seniors who love to chat and greet. Every little dresser, every kind deed,

makes our community grow like a beautiful scene. So let's join together. Let's lend a hand

and give to others. We'll take a stand. Thank you, Dara. These kids are the wonderful job.

Let's give another big round of applause as a thank you.

And now we get to have the treat of hearing some wonderful music from the Grove School

through this great choir. Are you guys ready? All right, we're ready to hear you.

Oh, Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle all the way. Oh, what fun it is to ride in one horse open sleigh.

Hey, Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle all the way. Oh, what fun it is to ride in one horse open sleigh.

All right, let's do it.

We wish you a Merry Christmas. We wish you a Merry Christmas. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

With the tidings we bring to you and your kin. With the tidings we Christmas and a Happy New Year.

We wish you a Merry Christmas. We wish you a Merry Christmas. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Thank you so much. That was the Grove School through fifth grade choir singing some Christmas songs for us.

And now we're going to hear a message from Dr. Anna Olson who's the Aspire,

Wisconsin Rapids Cancer Center. Hey, kids, you guys did a great job. Thank you for being out here tonight.

So as you heard, I'm Dr. Olson. I'm a radiation doctor here.

Sorry, can you hear better now? Okay, kids, I don't know if you heard, but you did a great job and

thank you so much for your singing. It made my day. You did a wonderful job. So I am a doctor here at

the Cancer Center. And this is actually my first time at Love Lights was 15 years ago. So I've

been here a lot of years and I've seen just what an awesome thing this is for our community. I have

so many fond memories of it. So I think we all know that we started this as a way to support our

community members and to be able to give initially just to patients in the Cancer Center who need

an additional support, but now have expanded to include all of the patients at our hospital

addressing areas where needs aren't met by other resources. So we're able to help people,

for example, in the Cancer Center, pay utility bills, pay gas bills, get food that may not be

available at the food pantries or through other benefits. We can provide feeding supplies for

people who are too sick to eat, nursing, massage. We've helped with gifts for young moms who

have children and weren't able to provide gifts for kids during the holiday season. So

the work that we're able to do with this, both in the Cancer Center and throughout the hospital,

is just really incredible. And I wish you could all see firsthand what it means. I also know that

love lights are donated in honor of family members and community members. And I want to acknowledge

what a beautiful gift that is and what a wonderful way it is to honor them. We light the trees

as a way to be festive in community, but also to show support for people who are still receiving

care in the hospital and in honor of those who we love and want to remember at this time of year.

It's about community. It's about caring for each other. It's about caring for our neighbors and

friends. And what a wonderful time of year this holiday season to remember and support all of

those people. So I know that we think of this as a festive kickoff to the holiday season, but

please know that throughout the year, this really makes a difference to people working in the hospital

in the way that we can care for our community members and our patients. So with much gratitude,

I say thank you. And also, I think we get to light the Christmas trees pretty soon. So let's

kick off the holiday season as well. Thanks everybody. Before you go too far, Dr. Anna, I do want to

ask a question or two. This is Beth at WFHR. We are the lights of love, tree lighting ceremony.

What are some ways that we as a community can support those who are battling cancer?

The needs of our patients are extremely diverse. So there's obviously donations like this.

And the way we use this in our cancer center is we first have our social worker look for every

program available. We're another way to meet that need. And if we can't find that way,

then we can use these funds. But there's a lot of support that can be a lot less official,

if you will. There's other areas that our patients support that we can support food banks,

massage therapy. We have people who donate wigs, skincare products, makeup that is good for

sensitive skin. So you may think that it's just a gift of money that goes to the cancer center.

But I bet all of us have a talent or skill or resource that can be shared. And cancer really

takes its toll. It really does. And so even people who come into this situation,

maybe financially more comfortable can no longer work and just are needing things in

ways that they never have before. So maybe it's not a financial donation that some of us can give,

but certainly support. You can offer to cook. You can offer to give rides. You can offer to be

a listening ear. So there's something that each of us can do. We all have talents that we can donate.

Thank you. Thank you for that as well. And we could also try to do our best to take care of

ourselves so that we can be there for the other person. What are some ways that we can be good about

making sure that we stay healthy? Sure. So there's two ways. There's physical health and mental

health. We have care giver and patient support groups through the hospital. And then if we don't

have something that fits those needs, our social workers can help connect people because care

giving is really, really hard work, not just in cancer, but in life in general. And physical

activity and overall physical health are so important. Go for your annual appointments. Go for

your screenings. Make yourself a priority so that you are well enough to care for people around you.

I mean, the answer I could go on for hours about that, but really make yourself a priority.

Make your health a priority so that you can care for your community. Thank you, Dr. Anna.

And one of the ways that we can keep our mental health is by hearing music, right? And it's

a great way to keep us healthy and our kids have agreed to sing one more song for us so we can

keep our mental health good and have some joy. So here is the 3rd through 5th grade choir from

Gural Veteran in Three Skull.

Dr. R. E. N. O. S. R. D. R. R. D.

And a very shiny nose.

And if you ever saw it, saw it, you ready to say it?

Close, let the light bulb.

I love the other reindeer reindeer.

It's used to let them call in names like a gondiote.

And I never get a little blue, not a fruit off.

Join a reindeer reindeer gang, Slip and Oplie.

And one foggy Christmas Eve.

Santa came to say,

Ho, ho, ho, ho,

We're not with you, no so bright.

Won't you lie my slate tonight?

And all the reindeer's locked in, locked in,

And so we're not with thee.

Yeah, be!

We're not the red nose reindeer reindeer.

We're going on a mystery, let's be Washington.

So I have a couple of questions for the kids if that's okay.

What was your favorite part about preparing for tonight?

Anybody want to answer that question?

We're here.

Um, that we get to sing.

What was your favorite song?

Rudolph, the red nose reindeer.

What was your favorite thing about getting ready to come here tonight?

Um, definitely just hanging out.

What do you guys think of your teacher?

She's awesome.

What's your favorite thing about your teacher?

Come here.

Yeah, come here.

My favorite thing about my teacher is that she's kind and nice,

And she always explains everything for us.

Do you guys like your teacher?

Yes!

Do you want to sing one more song?

Yes!

Do they have one more song to sing?

Oh, oh.

Oh, oh.

Oh, oh.

Oh, oh, oh.

I'll sing it for you too.

I'll sing my song.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah!

Yeah.

Well, we're going to have one more song from the girl elementary school.

Thank you, kids!

Christmas, Christmas, time of year.

Time and joy and time for cheer.

We're even good, but we can't last.

Hurry, Christmas hurry fast.

What a way to have a loop, a loop.

Yeah, I want a loop, a loop.

We can at least stand the weight.

Please, Christmas, our be late.

Christmas, Christmas, time of year.

Time, our joy and time for cheer.

But we can't last.

Hurry, Christmas, hurry fast.

One at way to have a loop, a loop.

We want a loop, a loop.

We can at least stand the weight.

Please, Christmas, our be late.

Let's hear it for the kids.

I'm going to invite people to turn towards the expressway,

because we're going to light those lights in just a little bit.

I'm going to ask the choir if you will help count us down.

Are you willing to help count us down?

This is both a Spirits Wisconsin Rapids Riverview Hospital with the lights of love.

We are about to count down to light the trees.

Here we go, kids, are you ready?

One, two, three, two, one.

Go, go, go.

Go, go, go, go, go, go.

The lights are on the right.

If you are driving down the expressway, there are three beautiful trees out.

You can see all of the lights of love each one,

reminding us of those who we have loved and may be lost

or who are currently battling cancer.

We do want to encourage you to come on down.

We do have cookies available.

Now that we have the lights, we want to thank Silaris for that.

We also want to thank Richie and Feldner, Richie, funeral homes.

We want to thank Silaris for the cookies.

We want to thank three ladies who have the lights of love volunteers

and we have really helped to make sure that tonight goes well.

Nancy Sorenson, Nancy Myers, and Dodd Higgins.

We appreciate you.

We, of course, want to thank our six grade writers and their teachers for the essays.

Let's give them one more round of applause.

They did a wonderful job.

We also want to thank the Grove, though, through fifth grade choir

and their directors, Cindy Bates, and Sarah Moore-Brocker.

Especially thank you for the extra songs that you are not aware

that you were going to have to sing tonight.

Let's give them another great big round of applause.

So again, we want to thank everyone for coming out.

Stick around.

We do have cookies.

Make sure you grab a cookie.

Make sure you talk to your friends.

This is Beth from WFHR at the lights of love tree lighting ceremony.

Hey, everyone, I'm Ashley.

Just a quick shout out.

If you had somebody who was in choir today and they weren't performing

and you didn't want to miss a minute of it,

I got you covered.

There is a video on our Facebook page on 1055 that covered the entire thing.

So if you need any pictures or videos, feel free to download it

and enjoy your holiday.

Merry Christmas.

Again, we want to thank everybody for being a part of the lights of love.

This is Beth at WFHR.

Have happy holidays.

We're going to send it back to Seth for a little bit more Christmas music.