Make-A-Wish light display sets fundraising record

By CHRISTINE HAINES

chaines@yourmvi.com

There were concerns that COVID-19 would put a damper on this year’s light display for Make-A-Wish in Elizabeth Township, but the seventh year for the display at the Zombek house on Williamsburg Drive proved to be its most successful.

Don Zombek, who creates the display each year and gathers donations for the nonprofit group Make-A-Wish, anticipated raising less than $10,000 in 2020. The generosity of the visitors to the light display amazed him.

“We came in right around $14,000,” Zombek said. “Isn’t that crazy for the year we had?”

While Zombek wasn’t able to host the annual kick-off party because it wasn’t safe to have crowds walking around, the display attracted more vehicle traffic than ever.

“We had larger crowds. We had around 750 cars one night before Christmas,” Zombek said. “We had $700 to $800 in our collection box in one night when we usually average about $200. We’re really grateful for good neighbors who don’t complain.”

The funds raised will cover the cost of at least three wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses. 

Zombek said each Make-A-Wish experience costs an average of $4,400. He should know by the end of February which wishes have been granted from the funds generated by this year’s lights display.

“Sometimes they don’t share the kids’ names, that’s up to the parents, but they will tell us what the wish was and where they’re going,” Zombek said. 

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