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If a new sponsor is found, it is likely
that the Festival of Trees will return to Logan County in 2004.
Other potential event sponsors have been offered the opportunity to
sponsor the Festival of Trees. "No organization has come forth to
sponsor the event for 2003," says David Lanterman, president of the
Main Street Lincoln board of directors. "However, several
organizations have expressed interest co-sponsoring the event, on a
biennial basis, starting in 2004 season."
Main Street Lincoln and the Abraham
Lincoln Healthcare Foundation, both not-for-profit organizations,
have partnered on the event since 1996. The popular fund-raiser
traditionally involved a local display of trees in downtown Lincoln
followed by a gala and charity tree auction. In 2002, festival
organizers chose a more relaxed Twilight Dessert Auction in lieu of
an evening sit-down dinner, auction and dance.
For the past seven years, the Festival
of Trees generated profits that were divided equally between Main
Street Lincoln and the Abraham Lincoln Healthcare Foundation. Local
individuals and businesses sponsored artificial trees, wreaths and
centerpieces and then invested much more in the very elaborate
ornaments and decorations. In the past several seasons, the material
expense of the donated trees far exceeded the purchase price at
auction.
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Both groups feel that the large amount
of time invested by paid staff to coordinate the Festival of Trees
failed to offset the fund-raising potential, and they are now
focusing on other fund-raising events. The ALMH Auxiliary will
continue to sponsor the "’Tis the Season" card party and luncheon,
which will be on Monday, Dec. 1, at the Lincoln Elks Club. The
Abraham Lincoln Healthcare Foundation also sponsors the Fore-ALMH
charity golf outing, and Main Street Lincoln initiated a very
successful auction of decorated dogs this summer.
Main Street
Lincoln and Abraham Lincoln Healthcare Foundation wish to thank all
of the decorators, sponsors, purchasers and volunteers who have
contributed to the success of many past festivals.
[News release] |
