For Immediate Release
Monday, Nov. 23, 2015
With over $549,000 in profit, the Health Foundation’s Festival of Trees
breaks multiple records!
Fort McMurray, Alberta – This past weekend, the community came together at MacDonald Island Park to make the 26th annual Festival of Trees the most successful to date! The three-day Festival, presented by Syncrude Canada Ltd. included the Ladies Holiday Luncheon, Family Skating Party, Ugly Christmas Sweater Party, Gala, Christmas Family Fun with Santa, and weekend-long Santa’s Workshop and Gift Shop.
At this year’s event, the community made it possible for the Health Foundation to break multiple records. For the first time in 26 years, the live auction raised $409,000, all three ticketed events were sold out in advance and a tree donated by Finning (Canada) sold for $55,000!
“We’re thrilled by how well the Festival was received by our community,” says Melanie Antoine, Chair of the Health Foundation’s Board of Directors. “The event continues to grow year after year, with new and returning faces. We cannot thank our community members enough for helping us achieve a record breaking year!”
“We’re blown away by the success of Festival in light of these current economic times. Our community continues to demonstrate its resilient and generous spirit! We live in a community unlike any other; the success of Festival is proof of that!” says Susanne Chaffey, Executive Director of the Health Foundation. “On behalf of the Health Foundation, I’d like to thank everyone who attended Festival; in addition to volunteers, planning committee members, and our community partners and sponsors for making it all possible. The funds raised at Festival will support new medical equipment, programs and services throughout the Wood Buffalo region.”
Over the past 26 years, the Festival of Trees has raised over six and a half million (net) for local health care, with over 30,000 volunteer hours have been invested by thousands of community members.
Weekend long silent auction and raffle winners were contacted at the end of Festival of Trees at 4 p.m. on Sunday. Those who have yet to pick up their items may do so at the Health Foundation’s office located in the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre starting Wednesday, Nov. 25 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Festival of Trees colouring contest winner, Easton Ellis of St. Martha Catholic School, will be featured as the magazine cover child on the upcoming issue of Fort McMurray’s Child Magazine.
About the Northern Lights Health Foundation
Established in 1985, the Northern Lights Health Foundation exists to provide funds to support health care priorities within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. The Health Foundation is proudly accredited under Imagine Canada’s Standards Program. For more information, visit www.northernlightshealthfoundation.ca.
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For more information, please contact:
Jessica Lipton
Events Manager
Northern Lights Health Foundation
Tel: 780-791-6207 Cell: 780-370-5754 Email: jessica.lipton@ahs.ca