Seminole, Fla. – In 1993 Lights of Lake Park, an entire neighborhood holiday light display, was a gesture and fundraiser offered by Eddie Dow to celebrate the life of his late wife Ruby and honor the care she received from Suncoast Hospice, a member of Empath Health.

Now it has turned into an annual and favorited holiday lights display that attracts members from all over the Tampa Bay community. Since its creation 22 years ago, Lights of Lake Park has raised over $600,000 for Suncoast Hospice and 100 percent of those funds have gone to support many, like Ruby, to live their final days in dignity.

In 2007, Eddie Dow, whose passion and spirit also lit up the neighborhood, passed away. Now the neighborhoods of Lake Park Estates, Wieker, Lakeside Estates and Lake Seminole Village come together to dedicate the Lights of Lake Park in memory of the Dows and support Suncoast Hospice’s mission to help others in the way that it helped Ruby.

“Every single donation we receive at Lights of Lake Park goes to helping patients at Suncoast Hospice,” says president and CEO of Empath Health, Rafael J. Sciullo.  “2014 was a record-breaking year for fundraising and we hope for 2015 will bring even more help and support to members in the community.”

Lights of Lake Park runs throughout the entire month of December from 6 to 10 p.m. nightly.

Directions to Lights of Lake Park:

From Starkey Road:

Go west on Bryan Dairy Road, turn right at the first traffic light at 109th Avenue North and follow arrows.

From Seminole Boulevard:

Go east on 102nd Ave. North. Cross the Lake Seminole Bridge. Go to first traffic light at 97/98 St. North, turn left and follow arrows.

For more information about Lights of Lake Park, visit http://lightsoflakepark.com.

About Suncoast Hospice: Suncoast Hospice was established in 1977 by a group of volunteers who
realized the value of hospice care and wanted to bring it to their community. As a member of Empath Health, we are a nonprofit organization that provides care, compassion and comfort to thousands of Pinellas County residents. Learn more about Suncoast Hospice.

About Empath Health: Empath Health is an independent, community- based non-profit dedicated to serve a network of care including hospice, palliative home health and physician services, independent living assistance and day care for seniors, services for those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS and advance care planning. Learn more about Empath Health.