TUCKER, GA – Greek-American Victor Economy, a longtime subscriber to The National Herald, spoke with us about the impressive annual Christmas light display that he, along with the help of his family members and volunteers, put up every year to raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Economy told TNH that he has been setting up Christmas light displays annually for 28 years at the family’s current residence in Tucker, GA, and had also set up Christmas lights at two previous residences, though not quite on the scale it is now, for a total of 38 years. The elaborate display now includes vintage decorations like Santa and his reindeer, and some non-traditional ones, like a festive shark, and keeps growing every year, Economy said.

When asked about the decision to collect donations for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, he told TNH that neighbors and passersby who visited to see the amazing Christmas light display often offered to donate funds to help pay the electric bill during the festive season, but he refused. His father-in-law then suggested that donations could be collected for charity and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which helps fulfill the wishes of children with a critical illness between the ages of 2 1/2 and 18 years old, was chosen. The Foundation also pitches in with volunteers to help set up the massive display, Economy told TNH, noting that his daughters helped out from a young age and since they married, the sons-in-law also participate in the annual effort.

He added that since they began fundraising for Make-A-Wish, they have raised over $48,000. According to Decaturish.com, they raised $11,456 in the midst of the pandemic in 2020.

The property is one acre and the lights and decorations are placed on and all around the house and in the yard to enchant visitors with the Christmas spirit and holiday cheer. Santa Claus also visits three days a week, Decaturish.com reported.

Economy said that the Christmas display “is a gift to the community from us.”

He told TNH that his Greek roots are in Nedousa, near Kalamata, and his wife’s in Argostoli, Kefalonia.

Those in the area can view the display at 1833 Smokerise Summit, Tucker, GA, and make a donation. More information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation is available online: https://wish.org/.

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