Guests of the Festival of Trees gala and auction, Emanuel Medical Center’s annual fundraiser for Hospice of Emanuel, enjoyed their “journey” aboard the Orient Express on December 2nd at the Assyrian American Civic Club in Turlock.

2006 marked the eleventh year of the event, which sold out in less than one week. The event guests helped to surpass the 2005 net profit by 41%, while surpassing the budget goal of 28% in raising a net profit of $201,563 for hospice care. Festival of Trees has nearly doubled it’s net profit figure in the past two years.

The funds are vital and ensure that Hospice can care for all patients and families who need its services, regardless of their ability to pay, says Ashley Williams, Director of Development Communications and Donor Relations for Emanuel.

“We’re so grateful for the community’s support,” Williams says. “Hospice of Emanuel is such an important service because it provides support and care for those in the last stages of an incurable disease. It allows each patient to leave this life quietly, peacefully, with a sense of fulfillment and with dignity.”

This year’s theme was Orient Express …All Aboard for an Opulent Experience. The 700 guests entered through a “train station” from the 1920s and 30s and took a seat at their dining car to begin a night of champagne and wine, dining, dancing and fundraising.

During live and silent auctions, guests had the opportunity to purchase a themed holiday tree decorated by a local designer and other luxury items including vacation getaways, dinner events and parties.

A special Festival of Trees tradition is the diamond jewelry opportunity drawing. Geiger’s Fine Jewelry of Turlock has donated an 18-karat white gold diamond necklace this year that the Geiger family selected just for the event. The diamonds had an approximate total weight of eight carats. This item has a retail value of $12,000, but the opportunity drawing tickets raised nearly $26,000 for the cause. This is the seventh year that Geiger’s has donated a jewelry item to Festival of Trees. 

“When you’re involved with Festival of Trees, you know you’re touching peoples’ lives,” says Rick Geiger, owner. “When they’re going through one of the worst times, losing a loved one to cancer or old age, hospice staff comes into their home and makes a terrible situation better. To be able to have that loved one come home to be with their family and spend their last days together, it’s a big thing. We’re raising money to try to offer this to as many people as possible.” 

A live auction highlight was the auctioning of a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible in pristine condition owned by Bill and Marian Palmer and donated by their daughters, Cynthia Palmer and Sylvia Cox. “My sister, our children and I have been touched and transformed by our recent personal experience with the Hospice of Emanuel program,” says Cynthia Palmer. “We are thrilled that we have the opportunity to give something back to this incredibly vital need in our community.” Leonard Harrington, co-owner of Turlock Auto Plaza was the successful bidder on the ‘Caddie’.
 
Event sponsors included Hilmar Lumber, Inc., Covenant Ministries of Benevolence, Hilmar Cheese Company, Jane Vilas, Lander Veterinary Clinic, and Swedish Covenant Hospital.

Festival of Trees committee members include: Carol Ahlem, Christine Gemperle-Bacon, Rowena Ballard, Yvonne Geiger, Kristi Gemperle, Jan Gong, Betty Ann Ireland, Chris Irish, Gabi Kinsella, Terri Mardakis, Barbara Matheron, Cynthia Romero, Janet Sanchez, Beth Steeley, Suzanne Wahl and Susan Waterson.

Hospice of Emanuel is located at 825 Delbon Avenue and in 2005 made nearly 4,000 visits. It can be reached at 664-2550.