AMBUCS , Feed the Children Backpack Program and Trinity Lutheran School each received $ 5,000 ; Gateway Family Services of Illinois and The Dwelling Place each received $ 7,500 ; Mustard Seed Christian Day Care and Danville Area Soccer Association each received $ 10,000 ; Fischer Theatre received $ 14,000 ; and OSF Sacred Heart Medical Center received $ 65,000 .
Trees line up the David S . Palmer Arena floor each year at the Festival of Trees , including this set up from the 2001 Festival of Trees .
Greg Robison works to help set up for the 2000 Festival of Trees .
Hearing stories of how the impact grants have helped the organizations is one of Anderson ’ s favorite parts of the whole operation .
Another perk for him is witnessing “ the wonder in the eyes of children of all ages ,” he said . “ And when I say
A festival of trees at the 2000 Festival of Trees include Gordon Thoenes , left , Pat O ’ Shaugnessy , middle left and Gary Resh , middle right and Pat Adrain , right .. children of all ages , I mean from eight months to 88 years , because they all turn into children at the festival .”
Anderson said a notable amount of credit was due to those who trusted in the festival ’ s potential when it was first introduced in the 1990s , including Dennis Doran , who was the president of United Samaritans Medical Center , now OSF Sacred Heart Medical Center , during the festival ’ s inception , Pat Adrain , who was vicepresident of the hospital foundation at the time , and Sarah Robison , who was a development specialist with the hospital ’ s foundation .
“ Pat and Sarah surfaced the idea , took it to Dennis , and said , ‘ We think not only is this a good way for us to raise money for the hospital , but to bring the community together ,’” Anderson said . “ It served both purposes , and so there ’ s an awful lot of credit that goes out to those folks , because it was a leap of faith .”
That leap of faith taken in 1997 has led to a tradition that residents from Vermilion County and beyond look forward to each November , and Anderson said the tradition will continue for as long as the community responds to it .
“ There are communities that are
celebrating their 50th Festival of Trees and there are communities that didn ’ t get it out of the ground ,” Anderson said . “ So as long as the community continues to wrap their arms around this event and we have folks … who want to step forward and be involved every year , then we don ’ t have any doubt that it ’ ll continue to be successful and have an impact on the community .”
Jim Anderson fuels up for the 2019 Festival of Trees set up with a donut . Anderson said setup starts on Sunday each year and volunteers work about 13 hours each day until Friday to set up for the magical event .
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