By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News
On Friday, December 6, the Tulalip Tribes hosted the Providence General Foundation’s 39th Annual Festival of Trees Holiday Gala and Live Auction in the Orca Ballroom at the Tulalip Resort Casino. This cherished event brought together over 500 attendees, including community leaders, medical professionals, corporate executives, and other generous donors, to support a cause directly benefiting North Puget Sound’s children and families.
“This event has a long history; it’s the largest event of its kind in North Puget Sound.” shared Aimee Martin, Senior Philanthropy Officer with Providence General Foundation. “People come together during the holidays to make a difference in the lives of local children, ensuring they receive the care and support they need to thrive.”
One of the two chairpersons for the event, Tim Halliday, has been attending the Festival of Trees since the early 2000s. “He represents a second generation of giving back to the community and is passionate about supporting women’s and children’s services,” said Martin. Halliday, along with chairperson Karen Wetzel, ensured that the evening was an entertaining and smooth running success.
The gala featured 14 stunningly decorated Christmas trees designed by local community members. The auction of these trees raised thousands of dollars, with seven trees donated back to local organizations, including the Tulalip Boys and Girls Club. Interestingly, the trees already slated for donation drew the most considerable bids of the evening.
The highest bid went to the Decadent Holiday Dreams tree, which sold for an astounding $33,000. The winning bidder agreed to donate the tree and its gifts to Dawson Place, a center dedicated to helping children in need. The tree was a whimsical masterpiece adorned with pastel sweets, sugary donuts, cotton candy garland, and ornaments shaped like macarons, cakes, candies, and sprinkled donuts. It also included plush Squishmallow toys, 77 free drink gift cards, and other delightful surprises, making it a true treasure trove of holiday cheer.
This year’s gala proceeds will benefit children’s services at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett. Martin explained, “The children’s services fund offers comprehensive support to children under Providence’s care. Contributions will help finance vital programs and services, including our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, The Children’s Center, the Providence Boyden Family Autism Center, and Camp Prov, a summer camp for kids with special health care needs.”
A unique “Fund-a-Need” portion of the evening raised additional funds for the Providence Pavilion for Women and Children, supporting safe and healthy births for mothers and babies.
“It’s a higher priority at Providence to guarantee that babies and children receive the necessary care and support to grow strong,” Martin emphasized.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Spirit of Festival Award to local florist Stadium Flowers. “Since the late 1980s, Stadium Flowers has been a cornerstone of the Festival of Trees,” said Martin. “Their stunning floral arrangements enhance the ambiance yearly, and we’re excited to recognize their contributions.”
Reflecting on the generosity of the event, Tulalip Tribal Chairwoman Teri Gobin shared, “It’s wonderful that we could donate that money, see these beautiful lights, and it’s for a good cause, especially to help with the kids at the Providence hospital.”
The Tulalip Tribes bid on two displays during the auction, one of which will be at the Tulalip Tribes Administration Building, further sharing the holiday cheer with their community.
The Annual Festival of Trees Holiday Gala demonstrated the power of community, generosity, and holiday spirit. From the beautifully designed trees to the heartfelt donations, an incredible $1,452,581 was raised to benefit children’s services in the region.
“This event is an opportunity for people to give back during a special time of year,” Martin said. “It’s a generous group of people coming together to make a meaningful difference in the healthcare of North Puget Sound.”
For nearly four decades, the Festival of Trees has been a beacon of hope and support for children and families, and this year’s event spectacularly continued that tradition.