Memorial’s Festival of Trees sets
record, raises more than $384,000
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[February 14, 2018]
SPRINGFIELD
More than 33,000 people attended Memorial’s 28th
annual Festival of Trees, which raised $384,504 to fund
health-related projects and programs at Memorial Health System and
in the Springfield community.
The family friendly event continues to be a success because of the
support of generous sponsors, talented designers, dedicated
committee members and more than 1,000 volunteers who staff the
nine-day event, said Amanda Johnson, event manager for the Memorial
Medical Center Foundation.
“The results of Memorial’s 2017 Festival of Trees are very
impressive. Not only did we set a record in how much we raised, we
also saw an increase in sponsorships and we had a wait list for our
design opportunities,” Johnson said. “The festival has become a
tradition in many ways for people throughout central Illinois. They
volunteer, they perform on the entertainment stage and they come out
to enjoy the beautifully designed items and get into the holiday
spirit. All the while helping us raise money for grants the Memorial
Medical Center Foundation awards each spring.”
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Memorial's Festival of Trees began in 1989 to benefit the mission
of Memorial Medical Center. Since then, the festival has raised more than $4.9
million. Proceeds from Memorial’s Festival of Trees are used to fund grants
focused on education, research, technology and patient care.
The 29th annual Festival of Trees will be Nov. 17-25. The Gala
will be Saturday, Nov. 10. The theme will be “Holidays Through Our History” and
will celebrate Illinois’ bicentennial.
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Kathryn M. Harris is the honorary chair of Memorial’s 2018 Festival of Trees.
Harris retired in 2015 as the library services director of the Abraham Lincoln
Presidential Library, formerly the Illinois State Historical Library, after more
than 25 years of service. She is the first woman and the first African-American
to serve as the president of the Abraham Lincoln Association since its inception
in 1909. Harris is a historical researcher and reenactor.
[Michael Leathers, Memorial Health
System] |