The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

January 28, 2013

Final numbers: Kiwanis Holiday Lights impacted many

The Free Press

— The inaugural Kiwanis Holiday Lights display in Sibley Park attracted 100,000 visitors and netted $36,000 from sponsorships and donations, Kiwanis statistics show.

Of those proceeds, $22,000 will be donated back to the 53 nonprofits that assisted with the 39-night event, with the remaining money going toward improving the 2013 display.

Other stats from the 2012 event:

* More than 13 tons of donated food was collected for 12 area food shelves.

* Twenty-one restaurants donated food to help feed volunteers during set-up and take-down of the million-light display.

* At least four marriage proposals took place during the event.

* Nearly 10,000 volunteer hours were logged, with more than 1,000 people pitching in.

The even-larger Kiwanis Holiday Lights will open this year on Nov. 29.

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