Published: November 28, 2009 11:19 pm      

Hamilton’s Love Lights shine Monday

Monday marks the 27th Love Light Trees lighting ceremony at Hamilton Medical Center. The community is invited to the celebration as the Whitfield Healthcare Foundation, Hamilton’s fundraising arm, and The Daily Citizen partner to co-sponsor the annual Love Light Trees program.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. at Hamilton Medical Center in the Bandy Parking Plaza on the corner of Memorial and Broadrick Drives. Refreshments will be served and holiday music will be provided by the Men’s Ensemble of the First Baptist Church of Dalton directed by Larry Flanagan and the New Hope Middle School Chorus directed by Anita Neal.

“The Love Light Trees program is a wonderful way to honor or remember a loved one or friend and help others at the same time,” said David Morgan, 2009 Love Light Tree Committee chair. “Each light added to the trees is a symbol of love and affection for family members and friends. It is exciting to watch the tree grow brighter as the season progresses because we know that the contributions will enhance the level of care Hamilton provides to the Dalton community.”

“2009 Love Light contributions are designated to purchase a new cardiac monitor system for Hamilton’s Shaw Department of Emergency Care,” said Sharon Love, foundation director. “Over the past year, Hamilton’s Emergency Department had a record 54,000 visits and this new equipment will allow the physicians and nursing staff to monitor all cardiac patients from a central monitoring station for prompt patient diagnosis and initiation of treatment.”

For a minimum contribution of $10 to the foundation, a colored light is added to the trees atop Hamilton Medical Center and a gift of $100 or more adds a light in the star that tops the tree. Lights may be added to the trees throughout the holiday season. The names of those honored or remembered, as well as those making the contributions, are listed in The Daily Citizen’s Sunday editions. For each thoughtful gift made, the foundation mails an acknowledgment card to those honored or to the family of those memorialized notifying them of the tribute light donation. Contributions to the foundation are tax-deductible

Contribution forms may be picked up at Hamilton Medical Center, The Daily Citizen and the Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce. Also, contributions may be made online by visiting Hamilton’s Web site, www.hamiltonhealth.com, or by contacting the foundation office at (706) 272-6128.