Winter wonderland of Christmas trees sparkles at Warthers Tree Festival

  • by Jennifer Kneuss
  • November 12, 2012
  • 327
                        
Summary: There is a Christmas tradition in Tuscarawas County that also raises funds for a very important local cause. The Warthers Tree Festival, held each November, offers the opportunity not only to gaze upon almost 100 beautiful trees and wreaths, but also to purchase those items and have all proceeds go towards patient care at Union Hospital in Dover. Early each holiday season, over 5,000 people visit one of Tuscarawas County’s most treasured Christmas traditions – the Warthers Tree Festival, held at Warthers Museum in Dover. “November of 1993 was our first ever Tree Festival,” noted Carey Gardner, Director of Community Relations at Union Hospital, which is the beneficiary of the festival proceeds each year. “The hospital was in the middle of a capital campaign, and we were contacting all of our area businesses to ask for contributions. Warthers made a proposition, and offered their facility for a fundraising event with the hospital auxiliary, with the thought that it would maximize their contribution. Connie Finton and other members of the Union Hospital Auxiliary agreed to put in the sweat equity. There was a Christmas tree festival in Akron at that time, for Children’s Hospital, and we thought, could we do something similar down here?” The very first festival featured 32 trees, and the number has grown every year. For the 2012 19th annual festival, 94 trees are on display. The Union Hospital Auxiliary exists to provide money for the purpose of buying patient care equipment, according to the director. Each year, the volunteer group conducts fundraising activities including not only the Tree Festival, but the Celebration of Lights, poinsettia sale, Chocolate Love Affair, Tea in the Garden, Card Party, and the spring hanging baskets sale. The group also operates the Corner Shop, located in the hospital lobby. They merchandise the shop and staff it, in combination with some paid hospital staff. Each spring at their annual meeting they select a project to fund using the monies raised throughout the year. “In the past, the Auxiliary has donated the money for new beds, blanket warmers, EKG machines, surgical and therapeutic equipment, cleaning equipment for our housekeeping department, and cafeteria equipment, to name a few. Ten years ago, they also sponsored the newborn nursery. They try to touch a lot of different areas of the hospital. This April, they made a gift of $160,000 to the hospital from year-long fundraising efforts to build an outpatient pharmacy near the front entrance.” “It is both a convenience as well as a patient care issue to have prescriptions easily and immediately accessible,” said Gardner of the pharmacy, which is open seven days a week. The Auxiliary has a Project Center located on South Wooster Ave. in Dover. There, members work on various projects and hold planning meetings throughout the year. The Center was ‘tree central’ starting in late summer, as volunteers decorated over 40 of the trees available for sale at this year’s event. Businesses can sponsor a tree by writing to check to the organization, which then takes care of all the details, from purchasing the trees to lavishly decorating them. Anyone who wishes to can donate their own decorated tree, and all trees are on display at the Preview Party as well as the following week plus festival. Prices are clearly marked, and trees can be picked up by the buyer after the festival ends, with larger trees being delivered by auxiliary members. The Nov. 9 Preview Party featured an auction of both the ‘big tree’ and ‘little tree’. The first came with a stunning bedroom suite donated by Williams Furniture and luxury bedding, and its winning bid of $5,000 was from Dave and Kris Moreland of New Philadelphia. An out of town couple bought the smaller tree and its accompanying precious gemstone, customized necklace from the House of Stones for $8,000. “Many people make this possible – the Auxiliary, the tree sponsors, Preview Party guests, room sponsors, the tree buyers, our event sponsor Huntington Bank, and the many people who come to see the trees,” Gardner emphasized. The Tree Festival continues through Sunday, November 18, with hours of 11 AM to 8 PM daily, and Sunday hours of 11 to 5. A small admission fee is charged. More information can be found at www.unionhospital.org.


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