Union Beach, N.J, resident Brandon Gress is the grand prize winner of Jersey Central Power & Light's (JCP&L) fifth annual 'Merry & Bright' Holiday Lights Photo Contest, a competition conducted on the company's Facebook page.

Customers were encouraged to submit photos of their homes' outdoor lighting displays on the JCP&L Facebook page during the first several weeks of December. Ten finalists were selected from all entries, and visitors to JCP&L's Facebook page voted to select the winners.

Gress, who was the runner-up last year, has been expanding his display for years by purchasing lights and decorations that go on sale after the holidays. His display received 750 votes out of 1,900 total votes cast on Facebook. He won a $200 Visa gift card and a set of Lumenplay app-enabled LED lights.

For the past four years, Gress has donated thousands of dollars to the Children's Miracle Network of Mountainside, N.J, using the monetary donations he collects from spectators and his prize winnings from holiday contests like 'Merry & Bright.'

'We decorate our home with over 200,000 dazzling holiday lights, hundreds of plastic figures, inflatables and wonderful special effects that amaze everyone,' said Gress. 'Our display did not start off as large as it is today because it has taken years of collecting, purchasing and finding new pieces to add.'

To enhance their display each year, Gress and his family study photos of their previous year's display. This gives them the opportunity to see what decorations they should replace, move and purchase for the following year.

Runner up Shane Mac Cary of Ocean Township, N.J., received 320 votes and won a $100 Visa gift card. His display - dubbed 'Traditional Christmas Meets High Tech' - boasts 68,000 LED and incandescent lights that are synced to music. He also set up various scenes throughout his yard, including a lighted Santa at the beach, snowmen around a campfire and a North Pole display comprised of lighted figures and inflatables.

'Our 'Merry & Bright' Holiday Lights Photo Contest showcases some of the most spectacular holiday scenes across our region,' said Rosemary Spoljarick, manager of community involvement at FirstEnergy. 'Thanks to everyone who entered the contest and voted for their favorite display on Facebook. Congratulations to the winners!'

View the winning photos on the JCP&L Facebook page or on FlickrTM.

FirstEnergy Corporation published this content on 15 January 2018 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 15 January 2018 19:09:01 UTC.

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