The winners of the eighth annual Festival of Lights competition and the local charities chosen by the winners received their awards last week. A total of $10,250 was donated to the charities during a reception held at the ACE Tempest Re Building.

In the eastern division the St. Vincent De Paul Society benefited from first prize winner Edmund Faria and family, who donated $1,000, and second prize winner Raymond and Nancy Madeiros, who donated $750. Doris Brooks, who captured third prize, gave $500 to Hope Homes.

Central winners Howard and Ann Mitchell, Jr. donated their first prize of $1,000 to PALS while second place winner Scott Barnes and family donated $750 to Meals on Wheels. Beverly Tavares offered her third prize of $500 to the Bermuda Agricultural Group.

In the west end, first prize winner Michael Jean-Jacques donated $1,000 to the Physical Abuse Centre. Second place winners Debbie and Donna Ball donated $750 to the Lady Cubitt Compassionate Association and third prize winner Peter and Karen Marsh donated $500 to the Bermuda Educational Assistance Trust.

In the community section, the Cedar Park Community donated $500 to the Lady Cubitt Compassionate Association.

The commercial and retail winner in the eastern section was the Corporation of St. George?s which donated $1,000 to the St. George?s Foundation. In the central section XL Capital Ltd. donated $1,000 to Young Life Bermuda and in the West End, Sousa?s Landscape Management gave $1,000 to the Bermuda Equestrian Federation.