Embracing the season of giving, 24-year-old Jordan Maywald, is raising money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation through his Christmas light extravaganza experience in Austin, Texas. According to Community Impact, Jordan is continuing a tradition that started nearly 10 years ago in which he built a spectacular Christmas showcase to help make dreams come true for critically ill children.
While the first year of the Christmas light display brought $250 of donations, last year’s showcase raised more than $80,000 for the foundation which granted 10 wishes for children. This year, the display includes over 300,000 lights, drawing more crowds and more money to help children.
Jordan explained that the light show extravaganza started when he would put up Christmas lights with his dad as a kid. When his dad decided to stop when Jordan was just nine years old, he decided he would continue the work himself, and each year he would add more and more lights creating an impressive show for his community. Jordan begins working on the display in the summer, and shared that it is his “drive” and he “loves to do it.”
The Make-A-Wish Foundation was established to give hope and joy to children who are battling a critical illness. Through granting wishes such as meeting a celebrity or going on a trip, the foundation gives children and their families an experience of a lifetime that lifts their spirits.
Helping to make the dreams of critically ill children come true, Jordan is a role model for others showing them the true meaning of Christmas. While his display is an impressive show, the meaning behind why he goes above and beyond is what makes it special. Over the past seven years, Jordan’s display has raised more than $200,000 and as he continues his work this year, that number will go up along with the hope of children who need it most.