The 17th annual Festival of Trees auction, The Era’s Less Fortunate (ELF) Fund’s only fundraiser, is set to take place Thursday at The Bradford Club.
According to Rhonda Gray, ELF board member and longtime volunteer for the Festival of Trees committee, the theme of the event was decided this spring.
“This year’s theme ‘Open the Door to Christmas’ suggests we open our hearts to the warmth of the holidays by making time for those less fortunate than ourselves while being grateful for all we are blessed to have.”
She added that the auction has been dubbed “Bradford’s first Christmas party.”
Gray said, “With the (auction) being held the Thursday before Thanksgiving every year, I love that it gets people in the mood for the holidays.”
The event, hosted at The Bradford Club, will kick off at 6 p.m. with doors opening at 5:30 for an auction preview.
Each year, numerous artisans and businesses donate unique items that are auctioned off at the fundraiser. While the items make great Christmas gifts, attendees are welcome to take home a little something for themselves that catches their eye.
The event will start with entertainment being provided by the Basic Pitches acapella group from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Following will be Ade Adu, who will also provide music. Admission at the door is $20 and includes a buffet. There is also a cash bar.
Gray explained that this year’s event has a new element called the “Corporate Tree Challenge.”
“Not only open to corporations, the idea (is) to generate some friendly competition by means if out-decorating the “other guy” and garnering the most money for The ELF Fund when their tree is auctioned off,” Gray said.
Gray added the “winner” will get bragging rights as well as a token of appreciation.
Organizers hope the new challenge will bring back some of the friendly tree bidding that was central to the earlier Festival of Trees.
The ELF Fund is in its 35th season of providing Christmas gifts to needy children and seniors who reside in the Bradford Area School District.
Red and green tags listing what each recipient wants for Christmas can be found on trees at businesses including the Main Street Mercantile, Northwest and County National banks, Tops Friendly Market, Leo’s Sub Shop and Bradford Travel.
Volunteer gift-shoppers who take a tag can bring wrapped gifts to this year’s ELF headquarters, the former Goodwill store at 75 Forman St., Bradford, owned by Varischetti & Sons of Brockway. Gifts will be accepted from noon to 6 p.m. Nov. 27-29 and from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 1.
At noon Dec. 1, ELF volunteers will begin shopping for gifts that were not already bought. Gifts will be distributed Dec. 7.
The ELF season will conclude with the senior holiday party Dec. 9 at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
