Festival raises over $50k

A great back-and-forth exchange of bids took place Saturday night with a standing-room-only crowd at Festival of Trees at St. Jude Parish Center.

Little by little, the bids for the Christmas tree put together by Independence Bank staff were going higher and higher. Finally, it was sold for $3,000.

The crowd cheered as master of ceremonies Casey Pratt declared the tree sold for $3,000.

That was the most anyone ever paid for a tree at the annual auction that benefits the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line.

The tree decorated by the Atrium Mall stores was regifted twice. The tree was sold for $1,200, but the new owner said he really didn't need any more Christmas decorations, so he offered it back to the Boys & Girls Club, which put it up for auction again.

The new owner took the tree for $700 and then decided that he, too, didn't need more decorations. It was re-gifted again for $400.

It was just part of the excitement that comes with each Festival of Trees.

The People's Choice Award, the tree chosen as the best by the public, went to Mary Ann McCann and Bear Paw Veterinary Service, for a tree she decorated with homemade greeting cards.

"It won by a mile," said Krista Solomon, executive director of the HELP Committee.

Organizers were still tallying up the funds this morning, but Solomon said about $50,000 was raised, a much higher than usual figure.

"The average is about $35,000," she said.

Next year, the festival will be held in the new, expanded Boys & Girls Club building, Solomon said.

Construction of the expansion is going right on target, she said. A spring opening is planned, and everyone now on the club's waiting list will be admitted.

The theme for the 2015 festival will be "Home for the Holiday," since, for the first time, it will be held at the club's home.

Over the years, the festival has been held at the fairgrounds, Holiday Village Mall and St. Jude's. Because of a lack of space, it has never been held at the club.