The ELF Fund’s largest fundraiser, the annual Festival of Trees, will be held Nov. 16 at the Bradford Club.
The theme for this year is “Celebrating 40 years of Giving.” While the ELF Fund marks 40 years, the Festival is in its 22nd iteration.
Festival of Trees chairperson Rhonda Gray spoke during the ELF Fund’s kickoff breakfast held Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church in Bradford, stating there are already seven trees lined up for the auction.
Submitting trees so far are Cadet, Junior, Brownie, and Daisy Troops 16366; Cub Scout Pack 412; Lady A Weddings. Events. Creative.; the Zonta Club; Northwest Bank; Bradford Area Public Library; and the Pennhills Club.
The Woody Award, for H.L. “Woody” Woodruff, former general manager of The Era and an ELF Fund founder who passed in 2021, will be awarded to an individual for community service and support.
There will be a special guest auctioneer and several founding members in attendance “to help congratulate the ELF Fund and make this First Christmas Party of Bradford an event to remember,” Gray said.
Tickets, which are $30 each, are on sale now at Tops and Hamlin Bank.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the event will get underway at 6 p.m. with a buffet dinner and cash bar.
“There will be a live auction, silent auction and basket raffles,” Gray said. “We have some really interesting items coming up. There’s a rafting excursion and kayak, sporting event tickets, a signed Steelers picture” and more.
Handcrafted items and holiday decor will also be up for bid.
Gray said she’d like to gather some ELF Fund stories and pictures to create a memory wall to be featured at the event. Banners hand sewn by Pam Fredeen will be part of the tribute to the past 40 years of giving. Letters, which should be brief and anonymous, can be emailed directly to Gray at rhondagray14@gmail.com.
The committee is still looking for auction items in all levels as well as event sponsors in several categories, Gold Star at $1,500, Christmas Tree at $1,000, Ornament for $500 and Tinsel for $250. Anyone interested in contributing can contact Gray.
