Festival of Trees to support cancer patients

EPHRATA — The Columbia Basin Foundation’s Festival of Trees fundraiser this year will benefit cancer patients and their families, said Foundation Director Corinne Isaak. 

“One of our staff has gone through breast cancer and all of the complications,” she said.  “It personalized it. And then my best friend passed away of colon cancer. I sent her to the (Columbia Basin) Cancer Foundation and had her work with (Director) Angel (Ledesma) and saw her come home with a wig and (I saw) the help that they gave and the support. It just makes you realize how necessary and vital and impactful organizations can be for people. Not everyone has a support system that goes through cancer, and these organizations offer that support.” 

The proceeds will be split four ways, Isaak said, between the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation, the Childhood Cancer Coalition, Jayda Harmon’s Children’s Cancer Fund and Cancer Care of NCW. All four offer support through things like gas cards, lodging for overnight treatments and respite care to people, many of them children, suffering from cancer. 

The Festival of Trees is held every year at the Columbia Basin Foundation’s office in Ephrata. Twelve businesses and individuals decorate a tree apiece and set it up, sometimes with presents underneath. Patrons can come by whenever the office is open and buy raffle tickets for their favorite tree. At the end of the fundraiser, the names are drawn and the winners take the tree, trimmings and goodies home. 

“Everybody puts in their personal flavor and style and creativity,” Isaak said. “It’s fun, because you’re not going to have two trees alike.” 

The tickets are $5 each or six for $25, Isaak said. Most people buy their tickets in person, but the Columbia Basin Foundation can also take payments and donations over the phone. 

“Usually people, in the spirit of Christmas, like to come in and walk through,” she said. “We have Christmas cookies every day, freshly made.”  

The fundraiser starts Dec. 1 and runs through Dec. 11. On the final day, there will be an open house from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

The fundraising goal for this year is $10,000, Isaak said. 

“Anything is possible,” she said. “We just need people to walk through the doors and have a generous heart during the holiday season.” 

Festival of Trees 

9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 1-4 and Dec. 8-10,  

9 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 11 

Columbia Basin Foundation 

101 Basin St. NW 

Ephrata 

509-754-4596 

www.cbfcommunity.org 

    One size doesn't fit all, and multiple options are in the mix among the trees at the Columbia Basin Foundation's office in Ephrata. While the office is located in Ephrata, the foundation serves communities throughout the region.
  

    Trees stand ready to be decorated at the Columbia Basin Foundation office.