What It's All About
Creating Connection Through a Shared Experience
Homes and businesses join together to create a dazzling community of lights, perfect for a magical, self-guided tour.
Enjoy a spectacular free light show at UCONN Avery Point brought to you by our generous sponsors and Power Posse.
Our Story
We honor Abi's life by creating a movement that brings awareness, reduces stigma, and builds a community of support for mental health.
About Abi
Abi's Keeping Spirits Bright was created to celebrate the light Abi brought into the world and to continue her legacy of compassion, courage, and connection.
Abi was born in El Paso, Texas, in 2001, to two active-duty service members. Her childhood was marked by challenges, including her parents' contentious divorce and custody battles. In navigating these hardships, Abi struggled with her mental health and turned to unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Yet, even in her pain, Abi had an extraordinary ability to bring light to others. She worked at the Naik YMCA in Mystic as a lifeguard, swim instructor, and counselor for Camp Cove, creating safe and joyful spaces for children and families. After graduating from Stonington High School in 2019, Abi spent three months volunteering in Hanoi, Vietnam, at a school for children with special needs—an experience that reflected her deep compassion and desire to make a difference.
Abi loved the holiday season. For her, Christmas was more than a day—it was a feeling of warmth, wonder, and togetherness. You could hear the sounds of Christmas music floating from her room as early as June, and as a family, we would drive around to experience the magic of the lights. Those moments of joy and connection are what we hope to share through Abi’s Keeping Spirits Bright—because the light she carried deserves to keep shining.
On May 15, 2021, Abi died by suicide at the age of 19. Her story is a reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and the need for community support. Through Abi's Keeping Spirits Bright, we strive to light the way for mental health, reduce stigma, and create spaces where hope and help are always within reach—while also standing beside the growing number of suicide loss survivors, offering them compassion, connection, and a community that understands.
