GDC DONATES LA JOLLA TREE LIGHTING SERVICES

News

Mar 19

For the 21st year, the La Jolla Christmas Tree will shine brightly thanks to GDC Construction in La Jolla, and this year the ceremony has added significance. To help with reconstruction efforts following the devastating November fires in San Diego County, GDC Construction will sell and hang ornaments for the tree with all proceeds going to San Diego Habitat for Humanity.

"The tree has been our gift to La Jolla since 1986," said Pancho Dewhurst, vice president of GDC Construction, whose father, George Dewhurst, seeded the pine tree on behalf of the La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club. The tree has now grown to 60 feet tall at the corner of Prospect and Draper. The official tree lighting ceremony will take place on Thursday, December 13 at 6:00 p.m.

This year, GDC Construction, which in 2005 co-funded with La Jolla Parks and Recreation for the electrical system that lights the tree, will sell ornaments in 3 sizes; small, medium and large at a cost of $10, $25 and $50 respectively. The ornaments will be available for purchase at GDC Construction's La Jolla office at 1031 Silverado Street and at the tree lighting ceremony on December 13 at 6 p.m. Checks should be made payable directly to San Diego Habitat for Humanity. GDC Construction will place the ornaments on the tree through December 21.

Tree lighting runs in the Dewhurst family. George Dewhurst's father, Walter was involved in lighting the original 50-foot tree at the bottom of the La Jolla Cove in the 1950s and George continued the tradition in the '60s. Pancho Dewhurst, the 4th generation of the family to run the construction company noted the family's long tradition of service to the San Diego community. In 2000, GDC Construction built the memorial plaques around the cross atop Soledad Mountain to honor all war veterans.