Lights of Hope

Mission:
To raise awareness and monetary funds on behalf of The American Cancer Society through the annual Lights of Hope luminary event.

Goal:
Build partnerships with colleges nationwide to adopt this highly visible luminary ceremony that raises awareness, honors those that have been impacted by cancer and memorializes those who lost their battle against the disease.

Objectives:
• During the kick off of the academic year, to raise funds and promote early detection of all forms of cancer through educational programs.
• To promote the Lights of Hope signature college-wide ceremony as an annual capstone program to advance awareness, leadership, shared resources to our college community, students and their families.
• To build stronger and more transparent partnerships with college campuses for a cure throughout the month of October with a culminating ceremony at the “Lights of Hope” headquarters at Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) where participating colleges will present their checks to the American Cancer Society on the last Thursday evening in October.

Background History:
The Lights of Hope luminaria program was the vision of LCCC’s Teacher Education professor Melanie Wursta, a breast cancer survivor, along with LCCC Teacher Education administrative assistant Kristine Shaffer. The idea for the new program blossomed after Professor Wursta was presented with a beautiful glass luminaria in honor of her fight against breast cancer at the 2010 Lehigh Valley Hope Ball. Wursta and Shaffer immediately recognized the powerful impact that dozens of luminarias could have on the college community and began planning the first Lights of Hope luminaria program at LCCC. The title of the program comes from the popular song “This little light of mine” and the concept of “the light of hope for all.” The first program was held in October 28, 2010 and was attended by approximately 125 attendees and raised $3756.75.

This years program, Extinguishing Cancer….one luminary at a time on Thursday October 20, 2011. The Lights of Hope Program lit 433 Luminaries’ in honor and in memory of those impacted by Cancer.

Kristine Shaffer - kshaffer [at] lccc [dot] edu
Melanie Wursta - mwursta [at] lccc [dot] edu
610-799-2121