CHAMPAIGN – The Junior League of Champaign-Urbana is celebrating the 30th Festival of Trees, the organization’s largest fundraiser this Saturday, November 22 at the I Hotel & Illinois Conference Center from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. This will also be the final time the Junior League of Champaign-Urbana organizes and hosts the event. Morning Edition host Kimberly Schofield spoke with the JLCU’s Vice President of Fundraising Monica Samii-Porter about the Festival of Trees and how the group came to the decision.
KIMBERLY SCHOFIELD: What is the mission of the Junior League of Champaign Urbana?
MONICA SAMII-PORTER: We are an organization of women committed to advancing women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration and training.
SCHOFIELD: I know that they participate in a lot of community events. Tell me about the Festival of Trees?
SAMII-PORTER: Well, it is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and it started 30 years ago, since we’re celebrating our 30th anniversary. It is a one-day event, now, where businesses and individuals and community members donate a decorated tree or wreath, and we raffle those off. So our attendees can come and buy raffle tickets for the tree that they like the best. And at the end of the day, our computer program – not us – picks the winners, and you come back to the hotel, pick up your tree and take it home, and you’re decorated for the season.
SCHOFIELD: They’re already decorated.
SAMII-PORTER: Yes.
SCHOFIELD: I like that you said that it’s the computer system because then there’s no human error involved or favoritism.
SAMII-PORTER: And sometimes we have people who win, like, three trees a year. I’ve seen it happen.
SCHOFIELD: That’s amazing. So there are wreaths and there are trees, obviously. What else is there? What can people see if they go to the Festival of Trees?
SAMII-PORTER: Well, we partner with the Illini Media Group, and they have their Holiday Market. This is their third annual holiday market. There will be over 30 vendors, so you can buy all of the fun things, shopping for the holidays. And then also, you know, donate to our community because that money goes towards our Community Assistance Fund grants, where we help other nonprofits with a monetary donation. And then we also have our First in the Family scholarships for a civic-minded female, or those who identify as female, as the First in the Family for a $1,000 scholarship for college. We do have a rich history in the community.
SCHOFIELD: Do the people who decorate the trees also attend the event? Is it just open to anybody?
SAMII-PORTER: Oh, yeah, it’s open to anyone. There is an admission fee. $5 for adults and $3 for kids. Five and under are free. During the event, there are carolers that will be singing, Santa will be there, and you can get your picture with Santa. I think Mrs. Claus is coming around that afternoon, so she’ll be there as well. And there’s also a Kid’s Corner, so kids can make a craft and take it home.
SCHOFIELD: So you don’t have to go there anticipating to get a tree or a wreath?
SAMII-PORTER: No, you can go there and just experience the trees.
SCHOFIELD: Monica, you said this is the 30th Festival of Trees. How will you all move forward with it?
SAMII-PORTER: We actually voted just this month to sunset Festival of Trees. Unfortunately, we’ve had a decline in our membership and what was once a three-day event with our 150 to 200 members, we now have about 25 members, so trying to pull off a three-day event is not in the cards for us at this time. There is a ton of work, of course, that goes into the planning and setting up, and we just don’t have the capacity anymore. So we’re going to try something else next year.
SCHOFIELD: That’s exciting. That is a little bittersweet, also, the 30th anniversary, which will also be the final year.
SAMII-PORTER: Yes.
SCHOFIELD: What do you hope people get out of coming to this event?
SAMII-PORTER: Well, I really hope this kick-starts everyone’s holiday season because it’s the week before Thanksgiving. I know sometimes it feels like we go from Halloween straight to Christmas and we just like to put Festival of Trees right into the mix right before Thanksgiving so everyone can feel good about the holiday season, no matter what holiday you are celebrating. It is for anyone. It is for everyone. And we just want everyone to have the best time and look at some beautiful trees and wreaths and the imagination and creativity that goes into decorating.