The Fifth Avenue Snowflake for Humanity Foundation rang in the holiday season on Nov. 22 with the illumination ceremony of the iconic Fifth Avenue Holiday Snowflake.
This year, the cherished New York City holiday tradition celebrated its 40th anniversary of brightening the “most wonderful time” of the year for locals and tourists alike. The dazzling spectacle floats 50 feet above the intersection of the world’s most famous shopping boulevard at 57th Street. It is stabilized by cables anchored in the four corner buildings of the intersection.
The snowflake contains 16,500 individual crystal prisms with multicolor LED illuminators providing an infinite number of algorithmic patterns displaying over 760,000 colors and hues that illuminate the 30-foot tall and 3,300-pound sparkling holiday display.
The consistent, albeit much-needed, rain on Friday night didn’t dampen the spirit of the lighting, which began with the Salvation Army Brass Band playing festive holiday carols. Spectrum News NY1 anchor Shannan Ferry hosted the event, which included a special performance by opera soprano Angel Blue and baritone Dylan Hughes, singing “Oh Holy Night.”
The holiday display also serves as a “glowing beacon of hope,” having raised tens of millions of dollars for global charities since 2003. This year’s beneficiary is Citymeals on Wheels, which serves homebound elderly New Yorkers and has delivered 70 million meals since 1981.
Christine Stonbely of the Stonbely Family Foundation remarked that the crystal snowflake had been “a beacon for humanitarian causes around the world.”
“The foundation has supported the children of the world with food, medicine, and educational needs,” Stonbely said. “Going forward, the Snowflake will continue to be the Herald of the holiday season and to support humanitarian causes locally and around the world.
World-renowned chef and Chair of the Board of Directors for Citymeals on Wheels Daniel Boulud told amNewYork Metro that it was the first time he attended the Snowflake lighting ceremony, and he was honored that the Fifth Avenue Snowflake for Humanity Foundation chose Citymeals on Wheels, which is “close to his heart.”
Each meal the charity provides costs between $10-$12, Boulud explained.
“Citymeals keeps raising money to be able to bring meals seven days a week and take care of the elderly in New York. And I think it’s one of the most honorable charities,” said Boulud. New Yorkers can visit Citymeals.org to donate to the organization.
“The more they give, the more meals can be done,” Boulud added.
Beth Shapiro, CEO of Citymeals on Wheels, told amNewYork Metro that the nonprofit recently completed a survey on hunger among elderly adults in New York City and launched pilot programs to address the need to feed the city’s most vulnerable population and end elderly hunger by 2040.
“More than half of those we spoke with, who are receiving meals and programs through the city, are experiencing hunger,” Shapiro said. “They don’t know where their meal is coming from at some point during the month, and we are looking at pilots to bring more food to at least 50% of the 22,000 people we’re serving this year.”
Food insecurity has been rising in recent years, and Shapiro pointed out that 65% of those surveyed live on $15,000 or less a year.
“It’s a really expensive city, so the more awareness we can build for Citymeals drives, donations, and volunteers and be supported by events like this, it’s a wonderful thing,” Shapiro said.
