North Davis Project Illumination is a 100% All Volunteer Organization - no team member is paid or compensated in any way for their time. We have the greatest people on our team who care deeply about our community and want to make a difference.

In the early months of 2019 Illumination founder, Kurtis Fredericks, met with members of the North Davis Communities that Care Coalition (North Davis CTC) and the NuHope Suicide Prevention Task Force to discuss an idea for a youth event that included fun and interactive ways to discuss mental health, including live entertainment, a keynote speaker, and fireworks. A planning committee was put together consisting of individuals who were involved in the North Davis CTC. Davis Behavioral Health agreed to act as a fiscal agent so funds could be raised for the event. Plans began to come together. A location for the event was secured (Schneiter's Bluff Golf Course in West Point, UT), a date was decided upon (September 2, 2020), and a keynote speaker was selected (Hank Smith). At this same time, the world was thrown into uncertainty with the COVID-19 pandemic. The planning committee continued to plan the event in hopes that the pandemic would cease and the event could be held.

As time went on, it was clear that the COVID-19 pandemic was not going away, and an in-person event was not possible. With only weeks to go before the event, the planning committee shifted gears to move to a virtual event. Additional dates were added (August 31 and September 1) so that various workshops could be held virtually - a couple each day. Hank Smith agreed to host his keynote address virtually on September 2. The one other issue was how to get people onto a golf course and maintain "social distancing" to enjoy the fireworks. It was decided that this wasn't possible, and a change in venue was necessary. Scrambling at the last minute, the planning committee worked with the Davis School District and Syracuse City Fire Marshal to move the fireworks display to Syracuse High School. This allowed spectators to watch the display from their vehicles in the parking lot and surrounding area. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the first Illumination event was a success.

Following the 2020 Illumination event the planning committee began work on the Illumination 2021 event. The hope and plan was for an in-person event. It was also clear that Syracuse High School was not the right location for future events, so the search was on for a new venue. It didn't take long - Syracuse City was very welcoming, and agreed to allow the event to be held at Founder's Park, where it has been held since 2021. Illumination 2021 was held on Wednesday September 1, and the wish for an in-person event was granted and included activity booths run by youth groups in the community teaching what we can do daily to support our mental health, food trucks, live entertainment (James Violet), a keynote speaker (Sarah Frei), and of course fireworks. 

Following the Illumination 2021 event, it was discovered that Illumination could no longer function under the North Davis Communities that Care Coalition umbrella. Illumination needed to function on its own, as a non-profit organization. Time was not on our side, as applications to the IRS were taking much longer than usual due to complications associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The process to apply for non-profit status was started, but in order for Illumination 2022 to happen, a new fiscal agent was needed and Safe Harbor Crisis Center stepped up to help out. Illumination 2022 was bigger and better than the year prior, with more youth group participation and a greater attendance than 2021. The event included food trucks, youth activity booths, the addition of resource booths for parents and families, live entertainment (Hinge Point), a keynote speaker (Smith Ally), and ended with a wonderful fireworks display. Illumination 2022 was held on Wednesday August 31.

The long process for non-profit status continued. In April of 2022, North Davis Project Illumination was born. Articles of Incorporation and application for 501(c)(3) status were submitted to the IRS in April 2022. Then came the long wait for review and approval. Finally in January 2023 North Davis Project Illumination was granted 501(c)(3) tax status and was officially recognized by the IRS as a public non-profit organization. Because of the delay, fundraising began very late, but because of the amazing sponsors we have we were able to raise funds when the funds were needed. Another issue that needed to be addressed was the question or concern that was brought up often - why do this event on a Wednesday night, being a school night? We agreed...but with the youth participating in high school football on Friday night and city sponsored sports being held on Saturday, there wasn't an easy solution. So, we approached Syracuse City in early 2023 to ask the question - can we do this event on a Saturday? Syracuse City agreed (they really have been amazing)! Illumination 2023 was held on September 9 and included food trucks, live entertainment (Battle of the Bands and Madilyn Paige), youth activity booths, resource booths, the first ever Davis County Hope Walk, face painting, and thanks to the wind, a slightly delayed but amazing fireworks display.