Christmas Tree Festival gala, auction raises record $230,000 for CHR
After helping to raise more than $200,000, the festive trees are being shared throughout the area.
Organizers at the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation say this year’s Christmas Tree Festival attracted more than 4,000 people to view them in the Enmax Centre lounge. Then at this week’s gala and auction, they fetched more than $230,000 — about $80,000 more than last year’s record.
“We are blown away by the support shown to us by the individuals and businesses in Lethbridge and surrounding area,” says Jason VandenHoek, executive director of the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation. “We really can’t thank them enough.”
The 25 highly decorated trees were sponsored by local businesses, organizations and individuals, he points out. After the auction, he says, buyers donated many of them to groups like the Boys and Girls Club, Lethbridge Family Services and St. Michael’s Health Centre.
VandenHoek reports one of the trees, sponsored by the University of Lethbridge, was accompanied by about $2,500 worth of books. The successful bidder has donated those books to Gilbert Paterson Middle School.
Funds raised though the annual event remain in Lethbridge, he points out. This year’s proceeds will support the ongoing redevelopment and restorations to the hospital’s mental health facilities.