March News from The Spirit

Celebrating Springfield's Biggest, Best and Brightest

Since the Spirit of Springfield was conceived nearly 30 years ago, we have been fortunate to have the support of so many! It was great to have a full house at the Sheraton Springfield last week for the Bright Nights Appreciation Breakfast so we could say thank you.

Thank you to the speakers and their complimentary comments, and to our host, Paul Picknelly. #whoareyougoingtocall

- Judy Matt

President

Congressman and Crandall to Co-Chair Bright Nights Ball

When the 2019 City of Bright Nights Ball returns to be MGM Springfield, it will be co-chaired by Congressman Richard Neal and Roger Crandall, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer for MassMutual. The black-tie gala will celebrate the 25^th season of Bright Nights at Forest Park.

The announcement was made on March 1^st in the MassMutual Rotunda. Mayor Domenic Sarno, Paul Picknelly, President of Monarch Enterprises, and Alex Dixon, General Manager for MGM Springfield were on hand for the announcement along with sponsors and members of the committee.

For information about being a sponsor of the City of Bright Nights Ball or to purchase tickets, contact the Spirit of Springfield at 413-733-3800 or [email protected].

Bright Nights Shows Appreciation

Spirit of Springfield and the Springfield Department of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management reflected on the successes of the first 24 years of Bright Nights at Forest Park and looked ahead to the 25th season with the annual Bright Nights at Forest Park Appreciation Breakfast on Tuesday, February 26, 2019, at 8am at the Sheraton Springfield.

Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt was joined by Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Patrick Sullivan, Executive Director, Springfield Department of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management, Paul Picknelly, President of Monarch Enterprises, Attorney Melinda Phelps, Partner with Bulkley, Richardson & Gelinas PC and Spirit of Springfield Board Chair, Sheila Doiron, Director of Communications & Community Affairs, Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, Mary Kay Wydra, President of the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, sponsors, and many of the people who have worked behind the scenes for 24 years.

Bright Nights at Forest Park's 25th season will open on Wednesday, November 27, 2019 and operate through January 5, 2020.

Donations Rolling in for World's Largest Pancake Breakfast

The ingredients for the perfect pancake breakfast are rolling in. Cabot Creamery is donating 200 pounds of butter for the World's Largest Pancake Breakfast. Sheraton Springfield is going to provide hundreds of gallons of coffee and H. P. Hood will provide the milk, juice and cream for the coffee.

Carando Classic Italian is donating 1,000 pounds of bacon that will be cooked by the Hampden County Sheriff's Department and warmed by the Tower Square Hotel. Mansfield Paper and Baystate Health will both donate paper products. Mercy Medical Center will be printing the tickets and fliers for area school children.

More donations are expected for the annual flapjack feast, sponsored by MGM Springfield, which will be held Saturday, May 11^th in the middle of Main Street.

BREAKING NEWS

Hold the Date! Spirit of Springfield Golf Classic will be played on Friday, June 7
^th at Franconia Golf Course.

Reserve your foursome, be a sponsor or make a donation to the raffle.
Contact [email protected] or 413-733-3800.

In This Issue

Congressman and Crandall to Co-Chair Bright Nights Ball

Bright Nights Shows Appreciation

Donations Rolling in for World's Largest Pancake Breakfast

Breaking News!

Guest Column - Judy Matt

Bright Nights Memories

Guest Column

Judy Matt, President

Spirit of Springfield

While speaking recently with David Potter from the media relations office at MassMutual, he said something that really struck at my heart. He called Bright Nights at Forest Park a "treasured tradition" for his family.

No one could have said it better and we plan on using his beautiful words as we prepare to celebrate the 25 ^th Anniversary season of Bright Nights.

I think the true measure of our nationally lauded event's success is best judged by the holiday spirit and goodwill that lives in the hearts of all who have taken a journey for over a quarter of a century through our magical forest, and those who will attend for generations to come.

As we prepare to celebrate a milestone in the history of Bright Nights, we are asking everyone to share with us their favorite moments at Bright Nights. Some of the comments will be used in a commemorative 25 ^th Anniversary Bright Nights hardcover book. To enter your memory and learn more about some great prizes you can win, visit BrightNights.org/memories.

Last week, we had our annual Bright Nights Appreciation Breakfast to thank our sponsors and those behind the scenes whose labor of love has continued to make memories for nearly six million visitors over the past 24 years.

Many sacrifices have been made, especially by the Park Crew who endure all types of weather and time away from their families during the holidays.

If it were not for them there would be no Bright Nights.

SHARE YOUR MEMORY

SPECIAL NIGHT, SPECIAL SOMEONE

OR MOMENT

brightnights.org/memories

Dates for 2019

World's Largest Pancake Breakfast

Saturday, May 11th

8am to 11am

Main Street