REF Thanks Supporters of Festival of Trees

Reading, MA — Thank you all for a very successful Festival of Trees in 2019! Over 2,400 people attended and REF raised over $30,000 in profits which will go directly toward 2020 Teacher Grants. Without the support from local businesses, school and community groups, individuals and volunteers, our festival would not be possible. Together we have made this entertaining and rewarding holiday tradition a key fundraiser benefiting Reading’s students! A special thank you to our event sponsor the Reading Rotary Club; our community sponsors: Pamplemousse, Columbo’s Pizza & Cafe, and Geno Grande and his food truck; and our individual sponsor Karen Janowski.

In addition, much appreciation for the Reading Rotary Club for donating candy and cotton candy, and staffing the food booth; Columbo’s for the pizza; Woburn Showcase Cinema and Reading IMAX for donating popcorn; Michelle Greenwalt, the Sweet Treat Baker for the delicious cookies; Reading Stop & Shop for donating cookie frosting; Jackie and Mario Antimone for paper products; Creative Arts for card making station; Lauren Bennett for our festive posters and logos; Eric Rzepka for IT support; Reading Facilities Department, Parker Middle School and the Custodial crew for the space, electrical technology and support; the Reading Public Library for helping to promote our event.

Thank you to our fabulous FOT committee, the super volunteers who make this whole event possible: Kathy Kinney, Ann Cruickshank, Alyssa Gallegos, Heather Stepler, Jeanne Cappuccio, Julia Cahill-O’Shea, Karen Richardson, Sheila Baxter, Lindsey McCarthy, Laura LaFrancesca, and Annemarie Ring. In addition, special thanks to our wonderful students volunteers including our student volunteer organizers Rachel Grimes and Caroline Hugo. And of course, deep appreciation and thanks to our beloved Tree donors (see a complete listing at the end of this post).

We focused on local entertainment again this year and had a fabulous array of adult and youth musicians, singers and story-tellers. A heartfelt thanks to our adult performers: Reading Community Concert Band and singer Taylor Hilliard; and for the wonderful performances from our inspiring youth: RMHS Color Guard, RMHS Select Chorus, RMHS Jazz Band, RMHS Small Ensembles, Coolidge Middle School Wind Chimes & Small Ensembles, Parker Middle School Performers, Ben Mini, and Julia Mullen, CBTween, Caleb Cascio and Claire Benjamin. Last but not least, thank you to our favorite storyteller, Eileen Litterio and Shanna Fusco for the sing-a-long. We could not have done it without you and all the support from this community!

2019 Tree Donors