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32nd annual Festival of Trees raises more than $30,000 in community donations

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TULARE – Signaling the start of the “season of giving,” the Tulare community helped raise more than $30,000 to benefit Adventist Health Tulare during the 32nd annual Festival of Trees.

To accommodate safety precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tulare Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees opted to hold the fundraising event virtually through Zoom, Facebook and YouTube on November 17. This enabled registered individuals to watch a live feed of the event and participate in online bidding from the comfort and safety of their homes.

Participants had access to an online silent auction a week before the event that netted approximately $5,000. The main live auction event featured four beautifully decorated Christmas trees and two 4.5’ feet tall metal nutcrackers. Two lucky winners were recipients of equally decorated trees with their $20 raffle ticket purchased in advance of the event.

World Champion Auctioneer David Macedo and Master of Ceremonies Scot Hillman facilitated the online bidding, which culminated in all items being auctioned. Proceeds from both the silent and live auctions totaled more than $30,000, which will support the healthcare needs of patients at Adventist Health Tulare.

Additionally, select sponsors were treated to a catered at-home dinner and holiday centerpiece, courtesy of the Trustees and Friends of the Foundation. The Tulare Hospital Foundation would like to extend a sincere thank you to all sponsors of the 32nd annual Festival of Trees:

Host Sponsor - Rick Albert, R.N.

Holiday Sponsors - Altura Centers for Health, Barnes Memorial, Central Valley Meat Company, Clarklind Farms, Greg Watte Farms, JD Heiskell & Co., LifeStar Ambulance, South Valley Vascular

Additional information about the Tulare Hospital Foundation, including ways to give, may be found at www.AdventistHealth.org/Tulare.