Giving season
CARTI’s Festival of Trees fundraiser wraps up with black-tie event
Tux ‘N Trees, the black-tie fundraiser for CARTI and the culminating event of the 43rd annual Festival of Trees, was Nov. 16 in the Wally Allen Ballroom, Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. The festival, which also included the Nov. 14 Sugar Plum Ball and Nov. 15 Festival of Fashion, is designed to raise money for what is billed as the largest independent, nonprofit, multidisciplinary cancer-care provider in Arkansas.
The event was presented by the CARTI Auxiliary and chaired by Traci and Albert Braunfisch. They, along with festival chairs Jennifer Day and Shelia Vaught, greeted guests. As is tradition, decorated Christmas trees, both full-size and tabletop, highlighted the bevy of silent-auction items that had been collecting bids throughout the festival.
Bob Clausen and Ashley Ketz of KARK, Channel 4, steered the program, which was preceded by music by Dizzy 7 and a dinner headlined by shrimp and filet of beef. Addressing the gala-goers were the Braunfisches along with Adam Head, president and chief executive officer. Dr. Jim Sheppard of El Dorado spoke of his role as not just a caregiver for cancer patients, but a cancer patient himself after a 2017 diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma; then as a fundraiser for equipment at CARTI-El Dorado. A video about CARTI and its growth and facilities throughout the state punctuated the fund-a-need portion of the program. Those proceeds will be used for patient care and assistance programs.
Gaylen McGee of I-40 Auctioneers conducted the live auction, which was followed by dancing to Dizzy 7.