Help a Neighbor Win $100,000 for Local Schools

Maybe it's time to help a neighbor during this Christmas season as a way to ward off the lingering stain of the tragedy in Connecticut that has dominated the news in recent days.

One way is to support Affton's Dolan family as its decorated house has made the list of 24 finalists in the Patch "Deck the House Contest." Not only will Patch pay the Dolans' light bill, it also will award $100,000 to the Affton schools if it selected as the best decorated house in the Patch contest. Winners are selected by nationwide votes on houses in every state.

Sadly, there were no finalists from Fenton or High Ridge. So, how about a vote of confidence for the Dolan family? It's the neighborly thing to do.

Here's how:

Every day from now until Dec. 28, vote in our contest to help this entry win $100,000 for Affton School District. All you have to do is visit this page to browse a gallery of the finalists and cast your vote.

The Dolan’s Christmas decorations are so elaborate that Patrick Dolan finally bought a second electric service so the family could run the washing machine and microwave at the same time as the nativity scene and the singing Santa.

Patrick added 5,000 lights this year, drawing a total of more than 100 amps of power. Denise Dolan posts on Facebook constantly and has reached out to all her social networks, asking friends to vote for what Affton has come to call “the house with all the lights.”

So how about it?  Spread some yuletide love and vote for the Dolan house in Patch's Deck the House contest