A winter wonderland
Tux ’n Trees fundraiser crowning achievement for Festival of Trees
Green and blue lights with large white snowflake designs were splashed on the walls. A dozen or so designer Christmas trees were scattered across the floor, and dinner tables were centered with tall arrangements of white orchids, hydrangeas, roses and evergreens. All helped create a festive atmosphere for Tux ’n Trees on Nov. 22, CARTI Auxiliary’s final event of Festival of Trees.
“Oh What a Night” was the theme of the event, held in the Wally Allen Ballroom of the Statehouse Convention Center. The evening began with cocktails and a silent auction that included bidding on the designer trees. Guests then enjoyed a dinner of lump crab cake, blackened sirloin with peppercorn brandy sauce served with Parmesan polenta, roasted carrots and golden beets. Dessert was a pumpkin cheesecake bar with maple cream cheese frosting.
Event chairman Sherry Booles began the program speaking about how a donation of just $10 can provide patient transportation or medication, saying the donation “can change the life of someone.”
Keynote speaker was CARTI oncology nurse Maeghan Parker Arnold, who was diagnosed last year with breast cancer. After a bilateral mastectomy, she has been through five months of chemotherapy, with the last treatment in a few weeks. During chemo, she says she has sat alongside some of her own patients. “It’s a humbling experience sitting next to patients as they are comforting you.”
She also noted that CARTI assists with gasoline and lodging, whether or not a patient has the ability to pay. “They are so caring and compassionate when you are scared. Everything they do is filled with love.”
An auction and dancing to music by Rodney Block and the Real Music Lovers rounded out the evening. About 460 guests were at Tux ’n Trees, the last event of the four day festival, which included Festival of Fashion, the Sugar Plum Ball and Festival After Dark.
The festival raised $340,000 for CARTI, a nonprofit institution with the mission to offer quality cancer treatment and compassionate care.