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Published on 11/27/1995 All articles from this issue

'Festival of Trees' takes root to support Peninsula Children's Center

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By Matthew Tom / Town Crier Staff Writer

The holiday season usually brings to mind thoughts of family, good food, presents and decorating the Christmas tree. For most, the idea of decorating the tree is an annual ritual that offically calls in the Christmas season and instills those warm, cozy holiday feelings. But for the children of the Peninsula Children's Center in Palo Alto, the idea of decorating the Christmas tree means more.

The 13th annual "Festival of Trees" kicked off its major fund-raising event for the Peninsula Children's Center with a display of Christmas trees at Hyatt Rickeys in Palo Alto this past Saturday and Sunday. The 4-, 6- and 8-foot silk trees were decorated by local designers, stores, garden clubs and schools.

"We work all year for this one event," said Kathy Dolan, director of public relations for the Peninsula Children's Center Charter Auxiliary.

"There are a lot of people who donate their time and materials to make it happen." Two such individuals are Sandy Arton of Los Altos and Beth Bakenhus of Los Altos Hills, who co-chaired the fund-raising committee.

The fund-raiser collected money from the pubic viewing of the trees and the silent and live auction. "We charge people to see the unusually decorated trees and later raffle them off," Dolan said. "These aren't your usual trees with Christmas balls." The auction featured such items as a Hawaii vacation, San Jose Sharks tickets and an autographed Joe Montana football.

The fund-raiser also featured Santa Workshop, which allows children to make their own arts and crafts.

The Peninsula Children's Center was established in 1960 and offers special education, mental health and residential services to "disturbed children, adolescents and their families in Santa Clara, San Mateo and Alameda counties." The Center provides individualized and comprehensive programs for more than 175 children and 350 family members annually.

The event opened with a public viewing of the trees and included a "Flash Back with a Fifites Flair" dinner/dance on Nov. 25 and a "Roll Back the Clock" luncheon on Nov. 26.