December 8, 2021
34th annual Festival of Trees Gala raises more than $1.6 million for Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, auction makes event history
TACOMA, Wash. – The 34th annual Festival of Trees Gala raised more than $1.6 million for Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital on Saturday, December 4. Festival of Trees is the largest annual fundraiser for the hospital and benefits programs and services at the only Level II Pediatric Trauma Center in Western Washington. In addition to surpassing this year’s fundraising goal, the live auction portion of the evening made event history.
“The Kate Tree,” one of the 17 featured holiday trees, sold for $600,000, breaking Festival records for the largest amount ever donated for a single tree. Decorated in memory of Kate Irwin, the eldest daughter of long-time Mary Bridge Children’s pediatric oncologist, Robert Irwin, MD, the tree featured things Kate loved, including bright colors, goldendoodles, handwritten letters, global travel, Nordstrom and Starbucks. Kate fought a courageous battle with breast cancer and before she passed in 2019, made friends and family promise to find the light amid darkness and to live out her mantra: No bad days. Designers Mackenzie Fruge, Katelyn Krzmarzick and Bridget Upshaw wanted to honor Kate and invite others to live like she did, with kindness and optimism.
“What an incredible evening full of inspiration, generosity and hope,” said Alicia Chapman, executive director of Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation. “We’re so grateful to all who volunteered, donated and attended this year’s event. Thanks to the many individuals, businesses and organizations that supported this year’s Festival of Trees, Mary Bridge Children’s will continue to expand access to care and services for all children in our region.”
More than 600 people tuned in virtually to the Festival of Trees Gala. Festival of Trees is organized by the Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation in partnership with the Mary Bridge Brigade. Since its founding in 1921, the Brigade has raised more than $50 million for Mary Bridge Children’s.
Presenting sponsors for this year’s Festival of Trees were E9 Brewing Company, Tom & Meg Names Family Foundation, The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, Potelco and Sound Physicians. For more information, visit the Festival of Trees website.
About Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation
The Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation supports uncompensated care and clinical and community programs not covered by insurance for patients and families at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma, Wash.
Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital serves more than 300,000 children each year. More than half of the families served are low-income and more than 60 percent of Mary Bridge Children’s families are on Medicaid.
Because of generous donations to the Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation, the hospital is able to expand access to care so all children can receive the care they need. Donor-supported programs and services made possible by the Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation include mobile immunization clinics, child life services, Helping Hands and Tree House: A Place for Families.
About Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital
Founded in 1955, Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital is the state-designated Level II Pediatric Trauma Center for Western Washington, offering comprehensive care and resources for critically ill and injured children, and is the only pediatric hospital in Southwest Washington. Mary Bridge Children’s also provides primary, specialty and urgent care services at its outpatient centers and clinics across the South Sound, including Tacoma, Puyallup, Gig Harbor, Olympia, Auburn, Covington, Maple Valley, Federal Way, Bonney Lake and Poulsbo.
Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital & Health Network is more than a place for children to heal. It’s a place for them to grow and thrive. A place for families to come for solutions and support. A place where medical expertise and passion for children and families work together in perfect balance. Mary Bridge Children’s serves children and families, regardless of ability to pay, thanks to generous contributions to the Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation.
Mary Bridge Children’s is a part of MultiCare Health System, a community-focused, not-for-profit health system based in Tacoma, Wash. For more information about Mary Bridge Children’s, visit marybridge.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or our Kite Strings blog.