• Posted: November 23, 2021
• better communities, better construction, City of Chicago Christmas Tree, mt kelley

 

It’s the 108th year of celebrating the holidays in Chicago with the city’s official tree lighting ceremony and the 2021 event did not disappoint. The decorated trees in Millennium Park and along Michigan Avenue are now lit by more than 10 miles of light strands, courtesy of the union electrical contractor M.T. Kelley Electric of Oak Lawn. 

“Powering Chicago – along with its partners from the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Chicago and Cook County and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134 – is proud to present this year’s 108^th annual Chicago Christmas Tree,” said Elbert Walters III, Executive Director of Powering Chicago. “Following another difficult year for many, we are thrilled to share our work with all Chicago residents in person this year.”

Every year IBEW electricians complete thousands of jobs throughout the City of Chicago and Cook County, some of them are behind-the-scenes. “We’re proud to shine a light on this great work and showcase the immense skill that our men and women bring to the job each and every day. I want to personally thank the men and women of IBEW Local 134 for their tireless work and for capping off the year with a project that will surely light up the holidays for all Chicagoans,” said Don Finn, IBEW Local 134 business manager. “The 2021 Christmas tree lighting is a tribute to not only our IBEW members but the City of Chicago and its citizens. We look forward to lighting up the City for years to come!”

None of this would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of Powering Chicago and its partners, IBEW Local 134 and the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Chicago and Cook County, according to Elbert Walters, III, Powering Chicago executive director.

“Thanks to our member contractor, M.T. Kelley Electric, who has graciously stepped up to provide the electrical service needed for this year’s tree. From developing an electrical plan to ensuring all materials are acquired for the lighting, our union electrical contractors play an integral role in ensuring this year’s tree brings a smile to the face of everyone who’s able to see it in person,” said Rick Jamerson, president of the Electrical Contractors’ Association and Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors, Inc.

The work was very meaningful to Vincent Kelly, president at M.T. Kelley Electric, a firm his father founded in 1994.

“We’ve lit up many buildings before but weren’t familiar with how to light an extremely large Christmas tree. We’ve been taking advice from those who have done it before, talking about the number of lights and strands needed. All in all, we’ll have strung 10 miles of lights,” said Kelley. “It’s an honor to do this work.”

On the main Christmas tree, Kelley’s crew strung 1,030 strands of lights, which is 53,500 lights on the tree. That equals 25,750 feet of lighting, 4.8 miles of lights on the main tree.

All in, the M.T. Kelley crew strung approximately 10.5 miles of lighting on the main tree and throughout Millennium Park with the support of 3M Supply donation of needed materials.

Neal Heitz, Director of Event Production, City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events was happy to partner with Powering Chicago’s expert electricians.

“This tree came from a Chicago family in Logan Square and it’s the second year in a row we’ve had a tree from the city here in Millennium Park. Working with Powering Chicago, we are able to bring in electrical contractors who know how to do this work well, on time and on budget,” said the City’s Heitz.

Every year, Powering Chicago also partners with a charity to help spread holiday cheer and joy to families in need.

“This year, we are proud to make a powerful local impact by supporting a local organization, Connections for Abused Women and their Children (CAWC) that focuses on keeping families together and safe. They provide wrap-around services to help families stay whole,” said Elbert Walters III, Powering Chicago executive director.

Powering Chicago is donating $5,000 to help CAWC as part of our annual Holiday Lights campaign to help them continue the important work they do. CAWC’s executive director Stephanie Love-Patterson was honored to flip the switch and light the MIllennium Park tree, on behalf of Powering Chicago.

CAWC is the oldest domestic violence organization in the City of Chicago, according to Love-Patterson. “We were just amazed to be included in this wonderful partnership. Our clients were suffering dual pandemics during COVID, both domestic violence that for some has existed for several years, and now trying to navigate through this unfortunate COVID-19 pandemic,” Love-Patterson continued.

CAWC started the city’s first 24-hour domestic violence hotline and the 24-hour domestic violence emergency shelter. Their mission is to end domestic violence through a series of self-help initiatives, including access to emergency domestic violence, shelter counseling and advocacy support, legal advocacy services for children, and through public education to various organizations and companies where victims and survivors of domestic violence go for services. 

“This shows that people do care about them and want to do what they can to help survivors of domestic abuse,” said Love-Patterson.

Together with the Millennium Park Foundation, the effort helped to light up Millennium Park and the surrounding area. “The Millennium Park Foundation is lighting an additional 58 trees along Michigan Ave., as well as providing the décor around the trees,” said Scott Stewart, Executive Director of the Millennium Park Foundation.

This year is special, given all we have sacrificed in the pandemic. “On behalf of all of Powering Chicago’s partners, I wish you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season,” said Walters.