Making more than spirits bright
Maywald family light display benefits Make-A-Wish Foundation
Years ago, a family tradition began that would grow to have a profound impact on others. As a child, Jordan Maywald enjoyed helping his dad, Chad Maywald, each year with what was then a modest holiday display at their family home in Oak Hill. When Jordan was just nine years old, he took over the bulk of the responsibility for building the family light display from his dad. Since then, the display has grown to become a bigger and bigger part of Jordan’s life — and the home’s yard. He has turned it into such a spectacle that the display has been featured on national television for making holiday wishes come true for more than just their family.
Eight years ago, these PEC members decided to start collecting donations for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. That first year, they brought in $250; last year, they raised over $80,000! This year, with the help from visitors, they hope to donate even more.
The display turns on Thanksgiving night and will run until just after Christmas. Every year, it grows and changes. “It’s a display you’ve never seen before,” Jordan says. “Each section has its own story.” One section, a lighthouse with a lake of lights, is dedicated to Make-A-Wish. This year, there will be ten reindeer on display to represent each wish the display funded last year alone — they’ve granted too many wishes to have a deer for all of them.
Cash and credit card donations can be made on site at the Maywald home, or online at www.maywaldchristmasdisplay.weebly.com. As long as it’s not raining, the lights will be on from 6-10 p.m. every night at 10505 Twilight Vista Austin, TX 78736.
“Our display is free, but donations are of course highly encouraged,” Jordan says. “We get to see the whole process with Make-A-Wish, we even meet some of the kids. Seeing a kid that’s going through a hard time get to smile, that’s what Christmas is all about. It means so much to us.”