Submitted by Providence St. Peter Foundation
Providence St. Peter Foundation is pleased to announce that the 29th annual Christmas Forest raised $533,000 which benefits the Providence Mission of providing compassionate and excellent health care to all, with a special concern for the poor and vulnerable.
This annual five-day event, sponsored by Titus Will, is the foundation’s largest fundraiser and community event, bringing in thousands of visitors to see the trees and wreaths decorated by volunteers, and then auctioned off at the dinner and gala to help fund programs and services for Providence ministries in the Southwest Region.
“The generosity shown by our community at Christmas Forest is truly inspiring,” shares Kevin Schreiner, a Providence St. Peter Foundation board member who co-chaired the event with his wife Tammi. “Both Tammi and I are amazed by the number of hours put in by community volunteers and the incredible generosity of donors who come forward to help further the Providence Mission of providing compassionate and excellent health care to those in need.”
Also during the gala, more than $143,000 was raised for this year’s fund-a-need, which was SoundCareKids, a children’s bereavement counseling program which provides compassion and healing to children who are experiencing emotional turmoil after losing someone very close to them. “Research around Adverse Childhood Experiences indicates that an event such as a significant loss of someone close to a child can be detrimental to the well-being of children later in life if they are not provided the guidance and coping skills to grieve their loss in a healthy and productive manner” shares Peter Brennan, executive director of Providence St. Peter Foundation.
The tree that auctioned off at the highest amount went for $15,500 which was a 9’ NASCAR themed tree, which even included a week of fun for four people at the NASCAR races in May, 2017 at the Charlotte, NC Motor Speedway. Many of the trees and wreaths purchased are donated back to the community and are located in several areas of St. Peter Hospital, Mother Joseph’s Care Center, the Olympia Senior Center and Sunshine House.
“The outpouring of support seen at the Christmas Forest Gala made an incredible event” says Rick Middleton, board president for the foundation. “We live in a remarkable community of citizens who come together each year to make a difference for those in need and cared for by Providence caregivers.”
Providence St. Peter Foundation develops and provides philanthropic resources that help assure that compassionate and quality health care is available to the communities we serve, with special concern for the poor and vulnerable. The Foundation supports local Providence ministries including Providence St. Peter Hospital, Providence SoundHomeCare and Hospice, Providence St. Francis House, Providence Medical Group, and Providence Mother Joseph Care Center. Learn more at www.providence.org/giving.
