NHHS Foundation puts a 'Grinchy' spin on Festival of Trees
Newport Hospital and Health Services Foundation has announced that Festival of Trees will look different in 2020. Instead of gathering at Sadie Halstead Middle School on Dec. 5, this year's two-week event focuses on community partner participation, with the theme "Stink Stank Stunk" — a play on the popular movie, "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas", meant to lighten the burden felt by many in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
NEWPORT — In light of pandemic-related gathering restrictions, last week Newport Hospital and Health Services Foundation announced that Festival of Trees will look different in 2020.
Instead of gathering at Sadie Halstead Middle School on Dec. 5, this year's two-week event focuses on community partner participation, including one Epic All-Around-Town Raffle Tree. Newport's Country Lane will showcase this tree of community gifts and gift cards in a holiday window display for public viewing between Nov. 30 and Dec. 15. Foundation administration is hopeful the tree's value will exceed $5,000. $1 donation raffle tickets will be sold at various locations from Nov. 30 through Dec. 15, and the winning raffle ticket will be drawn by the Grinch himself via a live social media broadcast.
According to Lori Stratton, Foundation Event and Program Supervisor, the theme "2020 Stink, Stank, Stunk" is a play on the popular movie, "The Grinch that Stole Christmas." The cheeky approach to this year's event is meant to lighten the burden felt by many businesses and individuals in the wake of COVID-19 upheaval.
"We are asking community partners and Foundation supporters to help take the stink out of 2020 and support this temporary change to Festival of Trees. The foundation board is adamant that Festival of Trees holiday fun will continue, even if it looks different this year," continued Stratton.
The Epic All-Around-Town Raffle Tree will include family friendly gifts, activity and get-away certificates, and community gift cards. The Foundation is also expecting an additional "Grinch-buster" surprise gift to increase holiday cheer for the lucky winner.
In addition to the Epic All-Around-Town Tree, the Foundation is counting on a few businesses to sponsor their decorated prize trees at their local business locations. "We had several business sponsors that have been planning their 2020 prize tree since last year's Festival of Trees," said Stratton, "and we want to make sure they can still participate with their own showcased tree in 2020." All raffle tree winners will be chosen December 15th.
Businesses wishing to sponsor a tree at their location should contact NHHS Foundation for details and submit their participation form on or before November 9th. In addition to raffle tree sponsors and contributors to the Epic All-Around-Town Raffle Tree, the Foundation is actively seeking event sponsors, as well. Proceeds for the event support the Foundation's $75,000 pledge to the new 3-D mammography unit at Newport Community Hospital.
More information is available online at https://bit.ly/3mJtAJL, contacting the foundation office via email at NHHSFoundation@nhhsqualitycare.org, or by telephone at 509-447-2441, ext. 4373. Newport Hospital and Health Services Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.