Festival of Trees
Marking a milestone!
The successful 20th annual Festival of Trees on Thanksgiving weekend wraps up the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation’s $4 million capital campaign to benefit the Skagit Valley Hospital Regional Cancer Care Center.
“This year’s Festival of Trees was made more beautiful because it marked the successful end of a $4 million dollar capital campaign for the Regional Cancer Care Center,” said Judi Seegert, president of the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees. “It was very exciting for the Board of Trustees of the Foundation to announce at the end of the Gala on Friday night that the goal had been reached, something that in this economy was certainly extraordinary.”
The Foundation launched the Cancer Care Capital Campaign more than three years ago to purchase advanced equipment for the new Skagit Valley Hospital Regional Cancer Care Center.
“This campaign was borne out of a confidence in the excellent care that the new Regional Cancer Care Center promised, as well as a confidence in the generosity of the community that it would serve,” said Linda Frizzell, executive director of the Foundation. “For 20 years it has been a privilege of the Foundation to help Skagit Valley Hospital meet the healthcare needs of our friends and family, here in this region.”
The Foundation is a 20-year partner with Skagit Valley Hospital, providing much-needed support for programs and equipment purchases touching every department of the hospital from the Skagit Valley Kidney Center and Sunrise Inn to the Family Birth Center and the Regional Cancer Care Center.
“The Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation plays an essential role in the hospital’s ability to continue to meet the healthcare needs of the region,” said Gregg Davidson, chief executive officer of Skagit Valley Hospital. “We so appreciate the generosity and great works of this group of dedicated, amazing board members and volunteers who help support our vision to be the best.”
The Festival of Trees auction and presentation of elaborately decorated trees raised $290,000. The event drew a capacity crowd for Friday’s Gala Evening & Auction, a full house for Saturday’s comedy night and thousands of guests to Community Days on Saturday and Sunday.
John Curley, host of King 5’s “Evening Magazine” served as guest auctioneer in honor of the Festival’s 20th anniversary “Celebrating 20 years of granting wishes.”
The event benefits from exceptional sponsorship from the community. Blade Chevrolet and Whidbey Island Bank served as Festival Title Sponsors while Mountain Glen Retirement Community was Gala Evening Sponsor.
“Laughing All the Way” Comedy Night was sponsored by Tri-Country Truss and Concrete Nor’West while Kids’ Day was sponsored by Skagit State Bank and Seniors’ Day was sponsored by Life Care Center of Mount Vernon.
The Raffle Tree was sponsored by Cascade Mall, designer wreaths were sponsored by Williams & Nulle, PLLC, the silent auction sponsored by Key Bank and the Lockbox Jewelry Event sponsored by Shellan Jewelers.
Virginia Learned served as chair of the Festival of Trees for the past two years, aided by a committee of dozens of volunteers.
Award winners
Several trees, and the volunteer designers who created them, were honored with the following awards:
People’s Choice: “A Sneak Peek at the North Pole,” a brightly colored tree with animated Santa Claus and mail box, was selected as the People’s Choice in voting by thousands who attended Community Days on Saturday and Sunday. The tree was designed by a team from Burlington’s Charles Fine Jewelry including Robyn Bates, Linda Hanson, Julie Mains, Bridget Meidinger and Stephanie Wilhonen. The tree and decorations were sponsored by Charles Fine Jewelry and Doyle Guffie’s Rallye Auto Sales.
President’s Choice: “Modern Elegance,” a flocked evergreen with accents of bright green, silver and crystal, earned the the President’s Choice Award from Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation President Judi Seegert at designer appreciation night. The tree was designed by Dave Biggers and Heather Bryson. The tree and decorations were sponsored by Bellingham Anesthesia Associates.
Designers’ Choice: “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” a tree dedicated to the glamour of Marilyn Monroe, received the Designers’ Choice Award in voting by all volunteer designers in attendance at designer appreciation night. The tree was designed by Janey Dodge, Dawn Latimer, the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and Skagit Young Professionals. The tree and decorations were sponsored by the Skagit Valley Medical Center Surgeons.
Raffle Tree: Charlotte Dykstra of Burlington was the winner of the Cascade Mall tree raffle including a $500 Visa gift card and merchandise from Cascade Mall retailers.
Get ready for next year! The 21st annual Festival of Trees will be held November 27 – 29, 2009. Opportunities are available for sponsorship along with tree and wreath designers for the 2009 event. Contact Wendy Ragusa in the Foundation Office at 360-814-5747 or wragusa@skagitvalleyhospital.org.
