GMA's Will Ganss talks to Bob and Denise Dunn as they aim to raise $100K for charity while spreading holiday cheer on Christmas

Ambridge couple Bob and Denise Dunn have been putting up a light show and collecting funds for a children's hospital for 15 years
PUBLISHED DEC 24, 2023
Will Ganss reported on the holiday efforts of Pennsylvania couple Bob and Denise Dunn on 'GMA' (@GMA/X)
Will Ganss reported on the holiday efforts of Pennsylvania couple Bob and Denise Dunn on 'GMA' (@GMA/X)

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Bob and Denise Dunn of Ambridge, Pennsylvania, have perfectly embodied the Christmas spirit, as ABC reporter Will Ganss, who joined the co-hosts of the December 23 episode of 'Good Morning America' shared on the show.

For the last 15 years, the couple has been putting up a light show and raising money for a noble cause, with Bob playing the role of Father Christmas for the local children.

As Ganss stated, "It's safe to say that Bob and Denise Dunn are on the nice list this year, and that's partly only because I think he is the one making the list, but also because St Jude's Children's Research Hospital tells us that they are grateful for the incredible heart showed by the Dunns and their entire community."

Light show put up by the Dunns

Bob shared that he had started off with three streams of lights, which has now added up to over 20,000. "I always add something different," he said.

When Ganss asked him about his electricity bill, the jolly man replied, "It's not too bad, about $600 for about a month and a half."

"You can't put a price on Christmas cheer," observed Ganss.

While he's known as "Uncle Bob" among the grown-up neighbors, the children call him "the one and only Santa."

Dressing up in the iconic red and white outfit, Bob embodies the role well. "Some of [the children] would want to pull my beard, and now they know it's real and their jaws just drop," he said.

Raising money for St Jude's Children's Research Hospital

The Dunns have been inviting visitors to donate whatever they can for the children fighting cancer at St Jude's Children's Hospital.

"When we first started, we were hoping to get $500 for the first year," said Bob.

Days before Christmas 2023, the Dunns are only a "few dollars short" of their goal of $100,000.

Ganss shared that Bob will be shooting off "a bunch of fireworks" to celebrate if he manages to reach his goal, and will be returning with his display the next year irrespective of whether he does.

"Happiness, to see how many faces that smile… I had people that didn't believe anymore, they would sit by the road just crying because now they know that there is Christmas," is how Bob summed it the entire experience.



 

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