North Huntingdon family shines holiday lights on Jamie's Dream Team

The Harff home in North Huntingdon is wrapped up in a Christmas light display bright enough to see from an overhead plane.

The Harff family hopes to shine a light on a local charity, Jamie's Dream Team, that makes dreams come true for people experiencing illness or trauma.

Their fifth annual philanthropic Christmas display — a home adorned with rows upon rows of lights, wreaths and snowflakes — is raising money to benefit the White Oak-based nonprofit organization for the second consecutive year.

Tim Harff, son of Cindy and Al Harff, spent about two weeks setting up the display at his parents' home.

The light show is coordinated by computer to 11 songs, mostly “Trans-Siberian Orchestra” songs this year.

Last year, Cindy Harff said, the light show at 1907 Bernice Drive raised $1,907 for Jamie's Dream Team.

That's $1,907 to help local people, because money raised in the Pittsburgh region helps people here, said the organization's founder, Jamie Holmes, 25, of White Oak.

“When you donate to Jamie's Dream Team, your money stays in Pittsburgh,” she said. “And (donors) can come and see where it went.”

Since its founding, the organization has expanded to sponsor dreams in other states, including Nevada, Kentucky and Ohio. To actualize those dreams, Holmes raises money in those areas by sharing the dreamer's story there.

Holmes said she founded Jamie's Dream Team in 2005 “to help other people who are sicker than I am.” Since then, the nonprofit organization has granted more than 500 dreams for children and adults.

Holmes said the recipients' wishes range from Christmas gifts to home renovations — “anything you can dream of.”

Holmes was born with VATER Syndrome, a rare condition that causes abnormalities of the vertebrae, lower intestine, trachea, esophagus and kidneys. She has undergone more than 45 major surgeries.

Another surgery, this one an intestinal procedure, is scheduled for January.

Holmes said she'll continue to work for Jamie's Dream Team, even from her hospital bed.

Although she's in constant pain, Holmes said she knows she has to help others.

“If you look at her the right way,” Al Harff said, “you can see the (angel) wings.”

Jamie's Dream Team has planned a candlelight vigil, “Hearts Hands and Hope for Newtown,” at the Harff home tonight. Funds raised from the vigil will benefit the affected families of last week's school shooting in Connecticut.

Holmes plans to travel to Newtown as soon as possible to deliver the proceeds.

“I feel terrible for those families,” she said. “I want to do whatever I can to help them.”

Rossilynne Skena is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-836-6646 or rskena@tribweb.com.