Boys & Girls Club has successful 14th annual Festival of Trees

Press release

The Festival of Trees is a popular holiday tradition in Havre. Now in its 14th year, the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line's signature gala event raises money to support the hundreds of kids who utilize the club each year.

Although the Festival of Trees is typically a one-night event that includes games, a silent auction, drinks and hors d'oeuvres, and then culminates in a live auction of more than a dozen trees, this year's gala looked a little different due to COVID-19 safety precautions.

"We conducted this year's festival from a 'safety first' vantage," Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line Executive Director Tim Brurud said. "So instead of one big event, we held three smaller events for our event sponsors and donors. It was a great time; but next year we're hoping to get back to kicking off the holidays with one big in-person event."

Despite the change in how the event was held this year, the club says the Festival of Trees was still a huge success. The festival was entirely virtual in 2020 due to COVID-19. This year, all the auction items, including the trees, were also available to bid on online. Bidding took place Nov. 23-27.

Fifteen beautiful trees - donated and decorated by area businesses, civic and social organizations, and individuals - were auctioned off with all the proceeds benefitting the club. In addition, the Festival of Trees enjoyed a record number of business sponsorships for the event in 2021. All proceeds from the festival help the Boys & Girls Club in its mission to enable all young people, especially those who need the club most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

"We are humbled and incredibly grateful for the community support we receive," Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line Director of Marketing and Events Krystal Steinmetz said. "This was a challenging year, but we were pleased that we were able to continue the magic of Festival of Trees for the benefit of the kids."

This year's Festival of Trees' theme was "Dear Santa." The event featured hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, games and a silent auction.

Community support is crucial to the sustainability of the Boys & Girls Club, as funding for the nonprofit organization and the services it provides comes from grants, fundraisers, and private donations.