| Festival of Trees set to celebrate its 19th anniversary |
By: Wendy Reller
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If you need a little something to get you excited for the holidays, we have the answer. The Festival of Trees, sponsored by Advocates for Developmental Disabilities, will be held next weekend with all the hustle and bustle you can imagine. After reading this article, you’ll understand who the A.D.D. agency is, and why Therapeutic Recreation’s partnership with them is so important. You’ll also learn about how you can be involved in supporting this fundraiser, and how Owatonna’s City Employees have been involved since 2000.
Indeed, you’ll have all the details for 2009’s Festival of Trees Opening Night Gala and Breakfast with Santa.
What is A.D.D.? Advocates for Developmental Disabilities is a United Way Agency serving Steele and Waseca counties. They provide support, advocacy, and service to families of children and adults with developmental disabilities.
The partnership A.D.D. shares with Therapeutic Recreation is significant because it provides a way to enhance the programs of both organizations by working cooperatively toward a mutual goal.
Due to the nature of our programs, we are able to avoid competition and duplication of services. A.D.D.’s programs of support and disability awareness for individuals and their families compliment Therapeutic Recreation’s programs of adaptive and inclusive recreation and leisure programs for kids and adults with disabilities.
Our goals and the people we advocate for are the same. We’ve learned to combine our assets and support each other to give the best service. A.D.D’s Individual Needs Fund has allowed many Therapeutic Recreation program members to pay entry fees and memberships, when scholarships are needed.
The training materials we use for our volunteers and Youth Programs Staff regarding inclusion of children with disabilities are also a cooperative effort between A.D.D and Therapeutic Recreation. The success of this year’s Festival of Trees will impact the support we receive for Therapeutic Recreation programs as well.
There are several ways to become involved in this annual fundraiser. Large organizations may choose to be corporate sponsors, with contributions ranging from $500 to $1,000. As a business owner, individuals, or even a group of individuals, you can agree to underwrite a tree with prices starting at $225 and ending at $500.
Since 2000, the Owatonna City Employees have been underwriters of a $225, four foot pencil tree. Each year, interested employees donate $10 toward the trees expense.
After all donations are collected, the tree (along with two tickets to the Gala) is raffled off. It’s a great way to give and be rewarded too.
If you have a flair for decorating during the holidays or if you belong to a group who’d enjoy working on a holiday service project, we are always looking for designers to decorate trees with holiday themes.
For the live and silent auctions at the Opening Night Gala we need donations of goods and services. If you’d like to contribute a bottle of wine, or a night’s stay at your favorite getaway, we’re interested in your donation.
If you’re a crafter, and would like to show your products, we invited you to participate in our unique Holiday Boutique on Sunday morning, along with our Breakfast with Santa event. Our favorite way to get you involved is by having you purchase an admission ticket to the Gala for $15, or Breakfast with Santa for $7. You won’t be disappointed.
Final details about the Festival of Trees include:
• The date for the Opening Night Gala is 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites. Tickets are $15 each, available at Cash Wise, Hy-Vee, Kottke Jewelers, and the A.D.D. Office.
• The date for Breakfast with Santa is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites. Tickets are $7 each, 4 years and under are $5
We hope to see you there.
Wendy Reller is Therapeutic Recreation Coordinator for the Owatonna Park and Recreation Department. She can be reached by calling Owatonna Parks and Recreation at 444-4321.
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