SCV Boys & Girls Club hosts Festival of Trees fundraiser

A yearly tradition to mark the beginning of the holiday season for a number of Santa Clarita residents, the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita held its annual Festival of Trees fundraiser Saturday and Sunday.

Although each Christmas tree and gingerbread house being auctioned off was created by different volunteers with different themes and ornamentation, every dollar went toward the same cause: raising money for kids who use the Boys & Girls Club.

“Anybody from the community can come by, view all of the beautifully designed trees, gingerbread houses, we have the kids corner activity going on for the kids to make all the cookies and

crafts, and then live entertainment throughout the day,” said Matthew Nelson, CEO for the Boys & Girls Club.

As people walked around the pavilion set up on one of the far ends of the mall, they scratched out bids on pieces of paper, with some bids reaching into the thousands of dollars. People could do the same process for the gingerbread houses.

Nelson said there are two Boys & Girls Club locations in Santa Clarita, and both will benefit from the funds raised during the events happening all weekend at the Festival of Trees at the Westfield Valencia Town Center. According to Nelson, 300 to 400 kids use the facilities every day and each one participates in programs as well as receives a snack after school.

“The membership for the club costs us $800 per kid, but we only charge $60 a year,” said Nelson. He added the kids are put on scholarships which allows them to come and participate in fun, safe activities all year round.

Nelson said the auction event — which featured trees done up in

“

The membership for the club costs us $800 per kid, but we only charge $60 a year.”

Matthew Nelson,

CEO for the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita, of the need for the fundraiser

everything from winter themes to Star Wars characters — has been going on for nearly two decades, and can raise upward of $200,000.

“All of our designers and gingerbread house makers are volunteers,” said Nelson.

“It takes a small army to put this on.”

Dan Watson/The Signal Attendees wander among the 38 full-sized and the 30 tabletop decorated trees at the 17th annual Festival of Trees, hosted by the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita and held Saturday at the Westfield Valencia Town Center.

Dan Watson/The Signal (Above) From left, Kinley Susdorf, 2, Ariana Rim, 1, and Owen Susdorf, 4, color Santa Claus in the kids’ corner room during the festival. (Right) The Legacy Drama Club performs “Alice in Wonderland” on Saturday.

Dan Watson/The Signal “The Nightmare Before Christmas” decorated tree draws an admiring crowd at the festival.

Dan Watson/The Signal Joanne Cammarata takes photos of a gingerbread house Saturday during the festival.