WMH Foundation’s Festival of Trees raises over $100,000

Celebrating the 38th Weiser Memorial Hospital Foundation’s Festival of Trees, the early count on the funds raised at the Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024 annual Gala is over $100,000, which will continue to fund grants for equipment purchases at Weiser’s rural critical access designated hospital. 

 “The Festival of Trees is Weiser Memorial Hospital Foundation’s signature fundraising event,” Foundation Executive Director Kim Burgess told a packed house. “In the last 38 years we have raised over $800,000 through the Festival of Trees. 

 “With the dollars we’ve raised, we have funded projects that have furthered the hospital’s mission of saving lives and improving health and  building community,” Burgess added. “This year, our goal is to raise $110,000 through your generosity.”

 Burgess credited hundreds of community volunteers who stepped up to fill all of the roles needed to pull off an event the size of the Gala, including 76 individuals who decorated the trees displayed and were auctioned at the Gala.

 “Also at the heart of the event is the leadership of Weiser Memorial Hospital and the leadership of Weiser Memorial Hospital Foundation’s board of directors and our Festival of Trees planning committee,” she said.  “I’m not a one man band because of all of these individuals our event is executed like a highly skilled symphony orchestra performance and tonight would not be possible without their tireless support and leadership.” 

 Following Burgess, Weiser Memorial Hospital’s CEO Steven Hale extended his appreciation to the 54 sponsors of the event, with a special acknowledgement to Ridley’s Family Markets as the platinum sponsor.

 “And, all of you table sponsors,” Hale said. “You know we appreciate you going the extra mile. We really couldn’t do it without a community effort. It’s just everybody pulling together. I can’t thank you all enough for doing that.

 “The money we’re raising, our surgery department is busting at the seams between Dr. Elliott’s and Dr. Liby’s practices really taking off and expanding,” Hale continued. “We’re trying to accommodate that, but nothing in the OR (operating room) is cheap. So, we appreciate all that you’re doing to help us to reach that goal to keep the OR going and to keep you all healthy and safe. I just want to say thank you all for coming and bid often and bid them up.” 

 Serving as master of ceremonies was long-time Treasure Valley radio host Dale Jeffries, with the auction under the direction of Baker Auction Company, all familiar faces in the area. With its earliest beginnings in the field of farm, estate, and livestock auctioneering, Baker Auction has become a large force for successful charitable and non-profit fundraising events.

 Although the final tally on the fundraiser is still being added up, within the Gala several added events raised in the neighborhood of $13,000, and table sponsors alone brought in $17,000. 

 With Weiser’s Foundation and its first Festival dating back to the late 1980s, no doubt the 2024 Gala and auction is one for the record books.