Beneficiary
Each year, the festival committee reviews applications from many area charitable organizations, and selects one or more beneficiaries for the event. The selected organizations then provide volunteers and other support to the committee to conduct the event. Substantially all of the net proceeds are then given to the beneficiary organizations. The 2019 beneficiary organizations are:
Kingswood Youth Center - The mission of the Kingswood Youth Center is to provide a safe, positive environment in which youth may grow, learn and develop life skills critical to their success in the adult world. The center serves over 300 different youth each year, offering after school programs, one-to-one mentoring, summer programs, free meals, community service opportunities, recreational trips, Career Exploration Programs and much more. The funds from the Festival will be used toward purchasing a new bus for the center.
Kingswood Children's Summer Theatre - The Kingswood Children’s Summer Theatre nurtures public appreciation of and participation in the arts by providing opportunities for public performance and community education through leadership and outreach. During the past 50 years, over 3,000 children have participated in the KCST, with 60 students participating in the 2019 production. Kingswood Children’s Summer Theatre is dedicated to advancing the art of theater by creating a unified team of young people working together in a positive and inspiring environment. The funds from the Festival of Trees will be used to offset the increased cost of using the Kingswood Arts Center.
Central NH VNS & Hospice Pediatric Program - the only agency in Belknap and Carroll Counties that provided home based healthcare to children (birth to 18). The program provides services such as Pediatric Home Visiting, Mother-Baby Postpartum visits, Prenatal Home Visiting Program, Immunizations, Well Child Services, Child Development Clinics and Pediatric Care Management. Last year the program cared for 686 children, 90% from households at or below the poverty line.
In the past years, the festival has raised more than $330,000 to aid the following local charitable organizations:
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