C2 n THE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2010
F E S T I VA L O F T R E E S
Gala returns to Uptown center T
he annual Festival of Trees gala will be Saturday night, Dec. 4, from 6 to 11 p.m. where a host of fully decorated Christmas trees will be auctioned off. The event will be at the Uptown events center, one building south of the Hennessy building on Main. Proceeds benefit the Paul ClarkRonald McDonald Home on Excelsior Street. Betty Ostoj, Paul Clark Home Director, said the group hopes to raise $30,000 for its annual event. In years past, the fundraiser brought in nearly $42,000. “We had some hail damage at the home this year and are in the process of replacing stoves, refrigerators and carpeting,” Ostoj said. “Many people think that we get the majority of our funding from McDonald’s, but we hold a number of fundraisers to make ends meet,
WREATHS are part of the auction.
Ostoj said. Although the Paul Clark HomeMcDonald’s Family Place did not open until 1992, fundraising began in earnest in 1988, with efforts to raise the money needed to renovate the historic Paul Clark Home at
207 S. Excelsior St. in Butte. The first Festival of Trees was held at the Copper King Inn in 1990, with nearly 40 Christmas trees were entered that year. A Teddy Bear Tea for the children was also added. The home is usually about 30 percent full with parents of children who need medical attention or are staying long-term at St. James Healthcare. Many of those parents cannot afford to stay elsewhere. Public viewing of the trees starts Friday at 11 a.m. and runs until 8 p.m. On Saturday it is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. From noon to 3 p.m. is the children’s Teddy bear tea event. The gala costs $25 and includes hors d’oeuvres supplied by Pintler View catering, and a no-host bar. Thirteen trees and other Christmas ornaments are part of the auction items.
Thank You For Supporting The 21st Annual Festival of Trees A Fund-raiser for the Paul Clark/McDonald’s Family Home
“Christmas Through The Years” Your Generosity And Good Will Is A Tribute To The Spirit Of The Community WALTER HINICK / THE MONTANA STANDARD
BETTY OSTOJ, Paul Clark Home Director, said the group hopes to raise $30,000 from its annual event.
Paul Clark is a ‘home away from home’ Built in 1899, the Paul Clark Home was a gift to the city of Butte from copper magnate W. A. Clark. Clark named the home after his son, Paul, who had died in adolescence. For most of its history, the building served as a home to school-age children whose families could no longer care for them. The home’s young residents’ length of stay varied from a few months to their entire childhood. In 1992, the home opened its doors as the Paul Clark HomeMcDonald’s Family Place, and currently provides temporary lodging for families of patients receiving treatment at hospitals in southwest Montana. Rooms must be requested by a health-care
professional, and are available on a first come, first served basis. Families are asked to donate $10 per night, and no one is ever turned away due to financial limitations. The facility is handicap accessible and has a sunroom, children’s playroom, fully equipped kitchen, TV room, laundry facilities and most importantly, a caring and attentive staff. In the past 17 years, the home has lodged nearly 7,000 people from 48 states. Contributions may be sent to The Paul Clark Home-McDonald’s Family Place at 207 S. Excelsior, Butte, MT 59701. For details, e-mail pchmfp@netzero.net or visit the website at
www.PaulClarkHome.org.
Viewing is Friday December 3rd from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. & Saturday December 4th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Teddy Bear Tea Saturday December 4th at noon to 3pm. Live Auction Gala Saturday 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. RSVP $25.00 includes admission & Hors d’oevres, with a no host bar. The Silent Auction starts on Friday at 9 a.m. and ends at 7 p.m. Saturday – if you wish not to attend the Gala you may enter to up your bid until 7 p.m. at which time the Live Auction begins
For more information call The Paul Clark Home/ McDonald’s Family Place (406) 782-0353
®
McDonalds i’m lovin’ it
Give • Live • Love This Holiday Season
PRESENTS A Toy Filled Christmas
Proud to Support the
Festival of Trees & the McDonald Family Place
435 South Crystal, Suite 400, Butte, MT ( 406 ) 496-3400
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Please join Acadia Montana as we celebrate a toy filled Christmas with the Butte Festival of Trees. Come see and bid on our Toy Story tree at the auction Saturday, December 4th at 6:00 p.m. at the Uptown Event Center (Hillstead‛s building). Many of the toys represented in the movie are included in this display. Proceeds from the auction benefit Ronald McDonald House and the Paul Clark Home.