Festival of Trees
Beneficiary
In celebration of our 25th anniversary, The Festival of Trees joyfully recognizes our 2024 recipients of this year’s grants:
Life Ministries Food Pantry
The Children’s Center
Wolfeboro Senior Program
Crescent Lake School PTO
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All four of these non-profit organizations will be honored during our Festival that runs from December 5th thru December 15th at the Wright Museum.
Beneficiaries from 2024
Life Ministries Food Pantry
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In 1999, the Festival of Trees was started by Lynn Tyler and her committee as a way to help feed the hungry in the greater Wolfeboro area through Life Ministries Food Pantry. The Life Ministries continues to provide access to food security to qualified members of the community with dignity and respect. Sufficient food to prepare 12 meals per week for each family member is given on a drive through basis twice per month. LIFE Ministries is receiving a grant to continue this service at a much higher demand and cost. The budget for food purchases for this fiscal year has grown to $365,000, an increase from last year of 73%. The number of families has grown from 120 in 2022 to over 206 this last week. For more information go to https://lifeministriesfoodpantry.org
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The Children’s Center
The Children’s Center is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary. Starting with 30 students in 1974, they now serve over 170 families today. The Center continues to grow and expand its high quality enrichment educational programs, and music is core to this by providing a means of communication and expression, the ability to differentiate sounds, and stimulation to the part of the brain that learns about language, speech and eventually reading skills. To further these goals, The Center has been awarded a grant to grow their music program by continuing their weekly music specials and obtaining a Akambira, a type of African xylophone, which installed on the playground would inspire youngsters to explore pitch, rhythm and melody through expressing their own creativity. The Children’s Center was the first beneficiary back in 2000 when the Festival of Trees expanded to other non profits in the area. For more information go to https://www.thechildrenscenternh.org
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Wolfeboro Senior Program
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The Wolfeboro Senior Center works to meet the needs of our growing senior population. Their expressed purpose is to make longer lives better. An on-line exercise program geared for the senior population has been successful in doing this since COVID. Over 40 seniors are actively involved three days a week, but the costs to maintain this program has grown. The Senior Center will receive a grant to continue and expand this program to ensure all can avail themselves. In addition, this program helps seniors mentally as they move into a digital world with apps and ever-changing technology and solves the problem of transportation. The Senior Center did receive a Festival of Trees grant in 2010 for their food program. They have recently joined with Parks and Rec to meet more successful engagement. For more information go to https://www.wolfeboronh.us/parks-recreation/pages/senior-program-information
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Crescent Lake School PTO
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Crescent Lake School PTO is a first-time recipient of a Festival Grant. The PTO, that serves grades 5-6 with a population of 181 students and 40 plus staff, is regrouping and reaching out after COVID. They are a totally volunteer organization and survive on donations and planned fundraisers. They need financial assistance to provide community events such as Trunk or Treat, distribute scholarships for winter sports and field trips, support staff functions, and especially repair the Gazebo. The Festival of Trees recently supported Carpenter PTO and saw the huge growth they accomplished over that year with some financial foundation. For more information go to to https://www.Crescent LakeSchool.org
Past Beneficiaries
In the past years, the festival has raised more than $375,000 to aid the following local charitable organizations:
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2023 - The Cotton Valley Trail Committee, The Wolfeboro Lions Club, Magical Yoga, Makers Mill
2022 - The Friends of the Wolfeboro Public Library, Carpenter School PTO, The ACTS Assistance Canine Training Services
2021 - Kingswood Youth Center & The Child Advocacy Center of Carroll County
2020 - Festival cancelled due to global pandemic
2019 - Kingswood Youth Center, Kingswood Children's Summer Theatre, Central NH VNS & Hospice Pediatric Program
2018 - Lakes Region Humane Society, Hope House and Wolfeboro Nursery School
2017 - L.I.F.E Ministries Food Pantry and The Nick/WARA
2016 - Child Advocacy Center of Carroll County and Global Awareness Local Action
2015 - Friends of the Libby Museum and Kingswood Youth Center
2014 - End 68 Hours of Hunger and Caregivers of Southern Carroll County
2013 - Ossipee Children's Fund and All Saints' Preschool
2012 - Appalachian Mountain Teen Project and Granite State Adaptive
2011 - Wolfeboro Nursury School and Assistance Canine Training Services
2010 - Wolfeboro Senior Center and Meals
2009 - Lions Fuel Assistance Fund
2008 - 10th anniversary year, proceeds divided among past beneficiaries.
2007 - Wolfeboro Area Meals on Wheels
2006 - Wolfeboro Friends of Music, Appalachian Mountain Teen Project
2005 - Child Advocacy Center of Carroll County
2004 - VNA Good Beginnings
2003 - Lakes Region Humane Society
2002 - Kingswood Youth Center
2001 - Wolfeboro Area Children's Center
2000 - Life Ministries Food Pantry
1999 - Life Ministries Food Pantry
How to Apply to be a Beneficiary
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The Wolfeboro Festival of Trees Committee meets in October to choose that year’s beneficiary(s). Any greater Wolfeboro area non-profit service organization interested in being considered should submit a letter of application containing the following information by October 2nd this year.
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Name, address, and email address of the organization
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Non-profit status qualification (IRS 501(c)3 designation letter)
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Mission Statement
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Size (people served, number of volunteers, number of paid employees)
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Specific use for the funds including estimate of how much is needed- details
should include expected impact, community availability and timeline -
Annual budget including all funding sources such as grants and endowment
income
Responsibilities:
Your organization must be willing to participate in the event. Specifically, the beneficiary is asked to:
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Supply and decorate a tree for the event
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Provide a mailing list of members to be used for invitations to the Gala
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Designate a liaison to attend FOT planning meetings
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Provide and serve refreshments (cookies & punch) during the weekend public hours
Submit your application to arrive by October 2, 2024 to:
wolfeborofestivaloftrees@gmail.com
(electronic submission preferred)
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