The Festival of Trees is an annual fundraiser for the Primary Children’s Medical Center. All the people who plan, coordinate and run the event are volunteers and all the 600+ trees, food and gifts to purchase are donated. Literally every penny made at the 5 day event goes straight to help low-income families with sick children. My aunt Kathy is on the board of directors for this fundraiser and has been for several years. She is so wonderful and the other board members are too. They plan all year long for this event and as soon as it’s over they start planning for the next year. Their hard work shows in this incredible event and is beyond appreciated.
Lucas and I went last weekend on a double date, we saw the trees, watched 4 year-old dance classes performing on stage (SO cute), ate carmel apples and free scones (thanks Kathy!!) and got to visit with Kathy for a little bit. I can’t share how delicious the apples and scones were online but I can show you how elaborately decorated the trees are.
This was the first gold tree I saw and had to take a picture with it. And our dear friend Shelby who brought a date and came with us.
This baseball tree is creative, but not nearly as unusual as they get. I just liked it so I grabbed a photo of it.
Haha the picture was taken before he could get his hand into his pocket so now we have this awkward-hand-placement photo : ) I love it.
When visiting with Kathy, she told us a few neat stories that happened earlier in the week. Here is my favorite. (I have an iffy memory so this is what I remember. I know the numbers are accurate.)
One of the ladies on the board of directors is either friends with or has some sort of connection with Garth Brooks. Thanks to this connection she has all kinds of signed paraphernalia that she decided to use to decorate a tree and donate to the festival. Either the person who donated the tree or a friend or someone heard about this tree and said that they would match the winning bid price up to $10,000. When Garth Brooks heard about this particular tree he said, “I’ve heard great things about the Festival of Trees. I can’t go to the event but I will match the winning bid price up to $20,000.” On auction night, the Garth Brooks themed tree sold for $20,000, which means that thanks to three generous people this single tree provided Primary Children’s Medical Center with $50,000.
I hope these people, as well as all of the volunteers, donors and other tree buyers, know how appreciated their donations of time, talents and money are.
Thank you Kathy for all of your hard work with this noble organization. I know how much you dedicate to this fundraiser and want you to know that your contribution helps make this festival amazing.