Celebrating 40 Years of Love Lights

FORT ATKINSON – This year, Fort HealthCare is proud to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Love Lights campaign, a beloved holiday tradition since 1985. Over the past four decades, Love Lights has offered a meaningful way for community members to honor loved ones with colored lights or remember those who have passed with white lights. This heartwarming tradition has not only brightened the holiday season but has also raised funds for vital healthcare services and scholarships that benefit our community.

To celebrate this milestone, the 40th Annual Love Lights Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. on the Sherman Avenue lawn in front of Fort Memorial Hospital. The evening will feature holiday music, a seasonal message, and feature Dr. Jamie Clementi, Fellowship-trained breast surgeon at Fort HealthCare, as the Honorary Tree Lighter. Following the ceremony, attendees are invited to enjoy refreshments, cookies, and a visit from Santa.

The 2024 Love Lights campaign will continue to support two important initiatives. First, funds will help subsidize the CareLine Medical Personal Emergency Response Service, which offers 24/7 emergency access at the push of a button—allowing individuals to maintain their independence while staying in their homes. For those who cannot afford this service, donations will provide free or reduced-rate subscriptions. The second initiative focuses on healthcare scholarships for local students and professionals, continuing the Partners’ long-standing tradition of supporting educational advancement in healthcare.

Reflecting on the history of the Love Lights campaign, Kari Behling, Fort HealthCare’s Volunteer Services Manager, shared, “For 40 years, the Love Lights tradition has brought our community together in a truly special way. It’s incredible to see how much this campaign has grown over the decades. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we’ve been able to make a significant impact—whether by funding vital hospital equipment, supporting education, or helping individuals remain safe at home through CareLine. This anniversary is not just a celebration of those we’ve honored or remembered but also a reflection of the power of community support.”

As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Love Lights, we reflect on the remarkable generosity of our community. Over the past four decades, the campaign has raised over $750,000 to fund critical healthcare services, equipment, and education. This milestone is a testament to the ongoing support of individuals, organizations, and businesses throughout the area.

Join us in celebrating 40 years of this cherished tradition by honoring or remembering someone special with a Love Light. Your donations ensure that vital programs like CareLine and local healthcare scholarships continue to thrive, supporting the health and well-being of our community for generations to come.

Purchasing Love Lights

To participate in this year’s 40th annual Love Lights campaign, community members can purchase lights for $2 or more, with colored lights available to honor someone special and white lights to memorialize a loved one. Donations of $25 or more will recognize donors as Love Light Tree Sponsors. Donations can be made online at FortHealthCare.com/LoveLights (with a $5 minimum that automatically purchases two lights), or by downloading and submitting an order form. Mailed donations should be sent to:

Fort Memorial Hospital – Love Lights

611 Sherman Ave. East

Fort Atkinson, WI 53538-1998.

Gifts can also be dropped off at the Partners Gift Shop inside the hospital. To be recognized in this year’s donor listings, please ensure donations are received by December 12, 2024.

Love Lights Tree Lighting Ceremony

The Love Lights Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Thursday, December 12, at 6:00 p.m. on the Sherman Avenue lawn in front of Fort Memorial Hospital in Fort Atkinson.