Maimonides Medical Center held its 29th annual Celebration of Light on Dec. 2, bringing together community leaders and parishioners to support local churches in their holiday fundraising and tree-lighting efforts.
Established in 1995, Celebration of Light raises money for churches across Brooklyn and Queens, defraying costs for vibrant Christmas displays. Representatives from 43 churches across the two boroughs gathered at the Borough Park hospital on Monday to mark this year’s event.
The initiative fosters connections between Maimonides’ leadership and the wider community, aiming to bridge faith and service — with an added touch of holiday cheer.
Kenneth D. Gibbs, president and CEO of Maimonides, and Monsignor David Cassato, a hospital trustee and Vicar for Education for the Diocese of Brooklyn, joined parishioners and other leaders in the hospital’s fifth-floor boardroom to celebrate Maimonides’ longstanding tradition of defraying costs for Christmas displays at 33 local parishes.
“Our longtime partnerships with our neighboring faith organizations are essential to our ability to not just treat our patients’ conditions, but to care for them as people,” Gibbs said, “and we are proud to support the work these organizations do to care for our communities throughout the year.”
“For 30 years, Maimonides Medical Center has provided key funding to support Christmas light displays at churches throughout Brooklyn,” said John Quaglione, deputy press secretary for the Diocese of Brooklyn. “During these dark days of winter, may the brightness of these lights once again bring the spirit of Christmas, the message of hope and peace, to the people throughout Brooklyn.”
Attendees also took a moment to remember the late Larry Morrish, a beloved Bay Ridge activist who helped organize the first Celebration of Light.
Brian Long, founder of the Celebration of Light and head of Long and DeLosa Construction Group, recalled the event’s humble beginnings, conceived over tea and crackers at the Visitation Monastery in Bay Ridge alongside Morrish, who died in 2016.
Since then, Celebration of Light has only grown.
“We are grateful that this event is growing each year, with new faith organizations joining us in driving forward our mission to provide healing for our community,” Gibbs said.
