Welcome, Festival of Trees Enthusiasts! Join Berks County s newest holiday tradition the third annual Berks Festival of Trees! This fantastic event brings local businesses, volunteers and civic organizations together to improve community health in the spirit of the holiday season. Last year we doubled participation. We hope you can help us spread the cheer even more this year by making this our best year yet! Please join us to make Berks Festival of Trees a successful event once again. Save the dates below. HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN THE MERRY FUN: The goal is to create exciting, eye-catching trees and displays with your own decorative flair. Deck your tree out in any style or theme you like. Think traditional tinsel and garland, dazzling lights or maybe something more modern that will surprise everyone. Then add imaginative colors, lovely textures and gorgeous ornaments that visitors and online viewers will love. All creations are considered donations to the Berks Festival of Trees. And that s what really makes your tree shine: the dedication you show to improving the wellness of our community. Decorated trees must be at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Reading, by November 1st for the official tree lighting ceremony. They ll be displayed at DoubleTree until the Gala Auction Party on November 30th, when your tree will be auctioned off to raise funds and awareness for Berks VNA and its family of companies. If you re not able to submit a tree no worries! Take a gander at our sponsorship opportunities so you can show the community that you re actively involved in improving community health. Contact Nicky Paul at 610-378-0481 ext. 3316 or nicole.paul@hhcminc.org for details. TREE LIGHTING FOR SPONSORS Thursday, November 1 at 5:00 pm Ceremonial lighting of the trees GALA AUCTION PARTY Friday, November 30 at 6:00 pm Showcasing decorated trees and gifts by sponsors, with trees available for auction Your support is greatly appreciated. For updates, check the Berks VNA events page at hhcminc.org/about/special-events and follow facebook.com/berksvna. Lynann DeCusatis, Interim CEO Home Health Care Management, Inc. Eric Brown, General Manager DoubleTree by Hilton, Reading *All Berks Festival of Trees events will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton at 701 Penn Street, Reading.
sponsorship opportunities $10,000 DAPPER DIAMOND Would support our flu program for one whole year Full-page ad in the program book Logo featured on event website Mentions in advertising, press releases, and social media $5,000 SWANKY SILVER Would support five charity care patients Half-page ad in the program book Mentions in advertising, press releases, and social media $7,500 GOLD GATSBY Would support 10 patients on our Telehealth program for one year Half-page ad in the program book Logo featured on event website Mentions in advertising, press releases, and social media $2,500 ROARING RUBY Would offer bereavement support for families of a hospice patient Quarter-page ad in the program book Mentions on social media $1,000 JAZZY GEM Would support one childhood immunization clinic Quarter-page ad in the program book $500 SASSY SAPHIRE Would cover social worker visits for one patient Quarter-page ad in the program book The 2018 Berks Festival of Trees gives you many opportunities for sponsorship by allowing you to choose from several different levels of commitment. This gives you more flexibility to pick a package that best fits your planning and demographic you would like to reach. For more information, visit www.hhcminc.org/about/special-events. To participate, contact Nicky Paul at 610-378-0481 ext. 3316 or nicole.paul@hhcminc.org.
thank you to 2017 participants The Festival of Trees is more than just about putting up a beautiful Holiday Tree. It s about a holiday fundraising effort that brings our community together for a great cause. The Berks VNA and the Festival of Trees show what the community in Reading and the Greater Berks County Area can do when we all come together. The Reading Fightin Phils are very happy to support the mission of the Berks VNA and look forward to a wonderful continued relationship for years to come! ANTHONY PIGNETTI, CHIEF DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, READING FIGHTIN PHILS
New This Year! We are expanding our auction to include gift baskets, wreaths, services, experiences, gift cards, and more! This is a fun and easy way to support this years Berks Festival of Tress. Please consider donating items to our auction. Here are just a few ideas of items you could donate: Gift Baskets Tickets to Events Sports Memorabilia Artwork Travel Packages Cleaning Services Personal Training Sessions
Design and Decorating Guidelines Please pay close attention to these guidelines for the best possible tree we would like to inspire a minimum bid of at least $500 for each tree. To show our appreciation, the names of participants will be posted on tree signs and mentioned during the Berks Festival of Trees Tree Lighting and Gala Auction Party. TREE SELECTION Participants can design trees in different sizes. Trees may not be more than 10 tall and should fit through doorways and hallways at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton, Reading. Tree width is also an important consideration. Submissions can also be Tree Inspired, meaning that it is made of items that form the shape of a tree. DROP OFF When dropping off the tree, tell the front desk that you re dropping off a tree for the Festival of Trees. Someone will take you to your tree location and you can begin setting it up. LIGHTING If your tree is not pre-lit, you are welcome to provide additional fancy or colored lights to enhance the tree décor. Lights must be securely fastened to your tree. To ensure connection to an outlet, please bring your own extension cord. DECORATING You should decorate all sides of the tree. Consider filling empty spaces with creative materials use your imagination! Decorations can also include covering the tree trunk and adding shape to the tree itself. Remember to wire your ornaments carefully using ribbon, pipe cleaners or wire that matches the tree color. All decorations must be secure to withstand packaging, transportation and delivery to their new homes after the Gala Auction Party. Furnishing the tree with a tree skirt or covered material at the base is a requirement for the Berks Festival of Trees. This can be as simple as fabric or as elaborate as a handmade tree skirt to enhance the sale value of the tree. Keep in mind, items placed under the tree will be sold with the tree. Please do not place anything under the tree that you expect to be returned! After setup is complete, contact Nicky Paul at 610-378-0481 ext. 3316 or nicole.paul@hhcminc.org to notify her that your tree is set up. SECURITY If needed, trees can be roped off in the hotel lobby. If decorating with gift cards or if the tree comes with something of great value, we recommend giving those items to the VNA to hold, and putting fake versions on the tree. These valuables can then be distributed to the purchasers on the night of the Gala Auction Party. POST-EVENT Trees will be delivered to the houses or businesses of the winning bidders on December 1st.
Designer Contract Date The title, design and description you provide for your tree or display will be published in the Berks Festival of Trees program and Facebook event page, and may be included in other promotional pieces. Signed contract must be returned to Nicole.Paul@hhcminc.org by October 24, 2018. Print name as you d like it to appear on ALL promotional material: Donating Company/ Group/Individual Contact Mailing Address City State Zip Phone Email We would like to: Sponsor and decorate a regular tree Sponsor and donate a tabletop tree, wreath, basket or experience. Sponsor and have the VNA decorate a tree or tabletop tree on our behalf PLEASE NOTE: All items under the tree or included with display should be easy to move with the tree. All items included with your display will be auctioned with the tree. PLEASE RETURN SIGNED CONTRACT TO: Nicky Paul Marketing Assistant nicole.paul@hhcminc.org Title of Entry (Tree) Entry Description (50 words or less) I understand the Berks Festival of Trees Committee will design the Festival floor plan to incorporate appropriate space for each designer item and assign locations. They have the right to establish and enforce quality control of designs in order to maintain a high standard of excellence. The Committee has the right to refuse any donation that is deemed broken or inappropriate. I understand that I am responsible for supplying all decorations and tools needed to design the tree. The donated tree and all materials I choose to place under or around my entry are donations to Berks Festival of Trees. During the Gala Auction Party and throughout the entirety of the event, Berks Festival of Trees has the right to place the item in the live auction. I have read the designer guidelines and agree to them. I assume the responsibility for the complete and timely setup of my entry. Authorized Signature Date
designer check-in IMPORTANT! This worksheet helps Berks Festival of Trees set a value for your tree. Please list important features or selling points (ex. $500 in gift cards, one-of-a-kind or handmade tree skirt). Please turn this form in so we may value your design fairly. Name/Company Title of Submission PLEASE NOTE: You do not need to submit the receipts; you can keep them for your records. Please list the total retail cost of your ornamentation Please list the total cost of all the combined decor you have purchased for your design, including lights, ornaments, basket etc. Please list the retail price of your undecorated item Please list the retail value of the additional items included in your display (i.e., gift certificates, trips, etc) TOTAL VALUE OF DESIGN PLEASE RETURN SIGNED FORM TO: Nicky Paul Marketing Assistant nicole.paul@hhcminc.org Worksheet may also be submitted in person. Please list key items to include on signange: PLEASE NOTE: Berks Festival of Trees reserves the right to add value items to your design to raise additional funds at auction.