A generous gift from a Brooklyn native is bringing joy back to the Greenpoint area this holiday season.

Sonny Mukhopadhyay donated $20,000 of his own money to pay for holiday lights in his neighborhood.

Mukhopadhyay was born, raised in and still lives in Greenpoint. He says that for as long as he could remember, lights would illuminate Manhattan Avenue every holiday season, with store owners footing the bill.

He says that for the last three years, enough money wasn't raised for the lights, so he made the personal donation.

"It was my favorite time of year and it's when people are happy and cheerful, and I wanted to see that again," he says. "I want to see people happy."