Final tally in on Festival of Trees
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January 7, 2013 |
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By Marcia Morman
People flooded into Boundary County Fairgrounds
Memorial Hall on Saturday, December 8, for the
17th Annual Festival of Trees. The event that
began in 1996 to raise money for the local
hospital, Boundary Community Hospital, continues
today.
The Live Auction is the focus of the evening,
but the other events; the envelope quest, the
silent auction, the boutique, fund-an-item, and
50/50 were popular activities that kept the
night fast-paced and exciting.
"Puttin' on the Ritz," (above) a Christmas
tree cleverly decorated with a golf theme by
Karen English, Linda Rupley, Nancy Frederickson
and Karen Ovren and sponsored by E-Enterprises,
packed a full swing with over $1,700 hanging on
its boughs including a $700 golf package at the
Coeur d’Alene Resort and Golf and a 2013 Mirror
Lake golf pass.
No wonder the bidding went crazy for this tree!
Up, up and up it went. Expecting the bidding to
slow down at around $500, the crowd grew excited
as it climbed higher and higher, stopping at
$4,800!
Safeway, Boundary Computer Solutions, and
Anheuser-Busch all sponsored at our highest
level, the platinum level, each donating $1,250
to the Festival of Trees.
Twenty-six other sponsors committed to the
Festival of Trees at various levels. That was
just a portion of the support. Over 57 gift
certificates valued at $25 or more were donated
for the envelope quest. Live auction donations
and silent auction donations totaled 67.
For one person to count the volunteers would be
almost impossible; so many people helped in so
many areas.
This is a big event; just ask Linda Hiatt, Fry
Healthcare Foundation President and 2012
Festival of Trees Director.
The members of the Board of Trustees of Boundary
Community Hospital, along with the Board of
Directors of Fry Healthcare Foundation assisted
Mrs. Hiatt in numerous ways. They did a
fantastic job selling tickets to the event.
Blanche Studer sold the most tickets; her table
at the Festival was full of friends who came to
enjoy the evening with her.
Businesses, individuals of all ages, community
groups and clubs all joined in to help.
The Gala raised a total of $46,000 gross
revenues that, after expenses, provide $35,000
that will go directly to support the Fry
Healthcare Foundation’s projects for Boundary
Community Hospital.
“My thanks to the community who bought tickets
and attended the event and to all the businesses
in the county that so willing gave gift
certificates and sponsorships at different
levels,” Linda Hiatt gratefully expressed. “We
cannot forget the hard-working crews and all the
people who decorated trees.”
“I enjoyed the job. It was a great experience,”
continued Mrs. Hiatt. “I think we proved the
Festival of Trees can be done on a volunteer
basis with a lot of sub-committees. This year
was fantastic and The Festival Gala was a huge
success. Next year will be even bigger and
better,” Linda optimistically predicted. |
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