JCP&L Announces Winners of "Merry & Bright" Photo Contest

News provided by

Jan 12, 2015, 03:30 ET

MORRISTOWN, N.J., Jan. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) is pleased to announce the winners of its "Merry & Bright" Holiday Lights Photo Contest, a competition conducted for the second consecutive year on the JCP&L Facebook page.

The grand prize winner is Tom and Aimee Makowski of Berkeley Township, N.J., who received more than 1,100 votes out of 4,250 total votes cast on Facebook. They will receive a $250 Visa® gift card.

"Our 'Merry & Bright' Holiday Lights Photo Contest showcases some of the most spectacular holiday scenes in Northern and Central New Jersey," said Mark Jones, vice president, External Affairs, JCP&L. "At the same time, the contest is a fun way to raise awareness of JCP&L's social media presence and engage with customers."

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.

Each year, the Makowski family doubles the number of lights in their outdoor display, and in 2013 they began synchronizing the lights to music. This year, their home and yard featured more than 35,000 lights and 70 characters.

Tom Makowski said his daughter challenges him to build on the display each year, and he enjoys delighting and surprising his family by adding new elements every holiday season. The family also brightens the holiday for others by collecting food donations from the many visitors who come to admire the scene.

"Growing up, my father decorated with a lot of lights, so I always planned to do the same when I had my own house. We intend to carry on the tradition next year with 70,000 lights and a lot of surprises," said Tom Makowski. "We would like to thank JCP&L for selecting our home as a finalist, and everyone who voted for us on Facebook."

First prize winner Brandon Gress of Union Beach, N.J., received 885 votes on Facebook and will be awarded a $100 gift card.

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

JCP&L is a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE). JCP&L serves 1.1 million New Jersey customers in the counties of Burlington, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren. Follow JCP&L on Twitter @JCP_L, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JCPandL, or online at www.jcp-l.com.