Festival of Trees to feature auctions of decorated trees, holiday decor items

Tickets are on sale now for the ninth annual Festival of Trees, which will take place Thursday, Nov. 5, at 6 p.m. at Weymouth Country Club. The event features live and silent auctions of uniquely decorated trees and other holiday decor items, as well as dinner and wine.

Proceeds from the auction and ticket sales benefit the Medina County Women’s Endowment Fund, whose mission is to improve the lives of women and children in Medina County and to encourage philanthropy among them. Last year’s event raised nearly $22,000 and helped increase the fund’s grantmaking to agencies such as the Battered Women’s Shelter and RePlay for Kids.

“This festive event is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season,” said Karen Glass, MCWEF board member and Festival of Trees Committee co-chair. “Guests can start their holiday shopping as they bid on highly sought-after auction items and gift packages, while ultimately supporting women and children in Medina County.”

Tickets start at $40 per person and can be purchased online at www.akroncf.org/FestivalofTrees or by calling 330-376-8522. Doors open at 5:30 the night of the event, and festivities start at 6 p.m.

This year’s major sponsors include Ann Cole, Katie Horn Woodcock, Betty and Dick Lynham, the Medina County Women’s Journal, Medina Gem Co., and Western Reserve Masonic Community. Other sponsorship opportunities are available and can be secured by contacting Karen Glass, event co-chair, at 330-667-2365 or medinacountywef@gmail.com. The fund is also accepting donations of live and silent auction items, including service packages, gift items, and festively decorated trees and décor items.

To learn more about the Medina County Women’s Endowment Fund, visit www.medinawomensendowment.org.

About the Medina County Women’s Endowment Fund

The Medina County Women’s Endowment Fund, an affiliate of Akron Community Foundation, was established in 1998 to improve the lives of women and children in Medina County. The mission of the Medina County Women’s Endowment Fund is to fund organizations and programs in Medina County that support women and children, to serve as a catalyst for needed projects, and to assist women in their growth as philanthropists. The fund encourages the advancement and full participation of women and children in the community and in society. In addition, it supports organizations and programs that create opportunities for the educational, physical, emotional, social, artistic and personal growth of women and children. Since the fund’s establishment, it has grown to nearly $350,000 and awarded more than $125,000 in grants. For more information, or to contribute to the Medina County Women’s Endowment fund, go to www.medinawomensendowment.org.

About Akron Community Foundation

Celebrating 60 years of building community philanthropy, Akron Community Foundation embraces and enhances the work of charitable people who make a permanent commitment to the good of the community. In 1955, a $1 million bequest from the estate of Edwin Shaw established the community foundation. Today, it is a philanthropic endowment of nearly $191 million with a growing family of nearly 500 funds established by charitable people and organizations from all walks of life. The community foundation and its funds welcome gifts of all kinds, including cash, bequests, stock, real estate, life insurance and retirement assets, just to name a few. To date, the community foundation’s funds have awarded approximately $127 million in grants to qualified nonprofit organizations. For more information about Akron Community Foundation or to learn more about creating your own charitable fund, call 330-376-8522 or visit www.akroncf.org.