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Festival of Trees nets more than $100K for disabled
By ALEXANDRA CALDWELL
| Article published on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008 |
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| Photo by ALEXANDRA CALDWELL |
| Leia, 5, and Logan Anderson, 7, of Dunedin admire a Christmas tree at Clearwater’s Festival of Trees Nov. 26. |
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CLEARWATER – A little blond brother and sister took turns covering each other’s eyes and leading their sibling to elaborate Christmas trees. “Surprise!” they yelled as they uncovered each other’s eyes.
Leia, 5, and Logan Anderson, 7, of Dunedin, were among thousands of visitors who enjoyed the 24th annual Festival of Trees at the Harborview Center in Clearwater. The event was Nov. 26 to Nov. 30, which raised more than $100,000 for the UPARC Foundation – the Upper Pinellas Association for Retarded Citizens.
The Festival of Trees is one of the main fundraising events for the foundation that helps cover the costs of caring for people with developmental abilities that are not covered by state funding, said Brent Troth, director of development for UPARC.
“And each year that gap gets a little bigger,” Troth said. “Right now the economy that’s affecting everybody has affected our state funding. So every year the event becomes a little more important because the money we generate from this event helps fill that gap that the state is not providing.”
This year the foundation has experienced $3 million in budget cuts said Valerie Flannigan, UPARC spokeswoman. Often people do not think about or realize the needs of developmentally disabled people, she said, unless they know someone who is disabled. Flannigan said she therefore was moved that this year’s event raised more money and attracted more people than last year. More than 10,000 people attended, she said, and Saturday there was a steady stream of visitors.
“For people to support our event, knowing the funds go to our cause, is a tremendous outpouring of the community,” Flannigan said. “It’s a tremendous endorsement of the services we provide.”
Hundreds of decorated trees filled the Harborview center from two-foot tall trees to 10-foot trees.
The Red Hat Society Chapter Brats in Hats won a third place ribbon for “The Red Hat Tree.” It was adorned with dozens of fancy red hats, some with purple boas and feathers. Red, sparkly ribbon snaked around the tree, and purple beads dangled from the boughs.
Leia Anderson threw her arms around the bright green “Water Wonderland” tree that was decorated with sparkly fish, sea horses, starfish and ornate water plants.
“This is my favorite tree,” she declared as she pretended to kiss the tree. The tree won a first place ribbon and was decorated by Absolute Design of Tampa Bay.
Team Publix No. 144 decorated a white tree called “A Christmas Wedding” with bow ties, giant wedding rings, a ring bearer’s pillow, bride and groom glasses and topped it with a green wedding cake.
Jeannie Job and her daughter, Jillian, 13, of Clearwater looked at that tree and others to get ideas for how to decorate their own tree, Jeannie said. Their tree has to be extra special this year, she said, because they are hosting a rehearsal dinner at their house for her niece who is getting married Dec. 20.
The Save the Biltmore Preservationists won a second place ribbon for its tree, adorned with pictures of significant people to the Biltmore, the Biltmore through the ages and period fashions.
Joyce Seal and Dee Munderloh of Palm Harbor attended the Festival of Trees to see the tree they helped decorate for the Palm Harbor Newcomers Club. The club members hand made decorations for their tree, “Feliz Navidad,” including tiny piñatas, sombreros, metal cutouts, and vibrant paper flowers. They took weeks to make and the members spent about four hours decorating the tree, Munderloh said.
Caroline, 10, and Kate Hamric, 6, of Palm Harbor admired a white tree decorated with pink and purple butterfly wings, doll outfits, princess wands, purple lollipops, teddy bears and fairies.
The girls attended the festival with their mom, Anna, Nov. 26 because Caroline had helped make decorations for her Girl Scout troop’s tree, Anna said. Each year they mean to attend, but this is the first year they made it, Anna said.
“This is great. What a great way to raise money for charity,” Anna said. “What a brilliant thought to tell people to get together and make a tree and donate it to charity. This gets people in the mood for Christmas and gives to charity at the same time.”
The Festival of Trees was founded by Ray and Bobbie Hoopes, who wanted to raise money to support charities that serve children in Pinellas County, Troth said. For about the first 20 years of the event, the group Kids Kommittee ran the event, raised money and distributed it to various charities, including UPARC. About five years ago the Hoopes decided to retire, Troth said, and asked the charities it served if any of them wanted to run it. UPARC volunteered, and now all the money raised benefits UPARC Foundation.
UPARC has served Pinellas County for more than 50 years, Troth said, and serves more than 500 disabled people and their families. It provides residential services including 22 group homes and an apartment complex of 25 apartments. It helps adults with developmental disabilities live on their own and provides them with the staff they need, Troth said. The foundation also provides job training so they can find work in the community, such as bagging groceries or working other general labor jobs.
“Another new thing at UPARC that is happening is we are about to open our first home for children,” Troth said. “By the end of the year, we will open a home that will serve six children with developmental disabilities and behavioral disabilities. And those are children who it can sometimes be hard to find traditional foster care situations because of their special needs.”
The home, located in Clearwater, will serve children ages 6 to 16. After that age they are eligible for the adult homes. The foundation is able to open the children’s home because of its success with its similar adult program, Troth said. A specialized staff works with the clients to overcome their behavioral challenges, and some clients are now no longer classified as behavioral intensive, Troth said.
UPARC has homes located in Tarpon Springs, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor and Clearwater, Troth said.
All the trees at the festival were sold and there was a waiting list in case anyone backed out of their purchase.
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Article published on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008
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